Tallahassee Magazine September/October 2019

INSIDE: A CHEF WITH A SPICE FOR SERVICE AND A MUSIC STORE THAT’S IN THE GROOVE

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SPECIAL REPORT:

A detailed look at TMH’s new M.T. Mustian Center

TEAM TAGGART Meet

FSU’s football coach emphasizes family on and off the field

Big or small, emergencies are stressful for you and your child. But, at our Children’s Emergency Center you can put your mind at ease. Our affiliation with Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville means access to board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians and resources from one of the nation’s top-ranked children’s hospitals.

AS LONG AS K IDS WILL BE KIDS, WE’LL BE RE ADY.

THE ULTIMATE “QUEEN BEE” AND ALLERGY SURVIVOR.

Tallahassee Memorial Emergency Center – Northeast • 1260 Metropolitan Blvd., 2nd Floor • TMH.ORG/ChildrensER TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September–October 2019

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September–October 2019

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Celebrating 30 Years of Building Dream Homes

2019 CONSUMERS CHOICE OVERALL WINNER TallahasseeHomesRealty.com

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September–October 2019

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Contents

SEPT/OCT 2019

FEATURES

78

FSU FOOTBALL’S FIRST FAMILY Coach Willie Taggart and his wife, Taneshia, discuss their emphasis on family, their three children, high-profile life and stress, “cute dimples,” a typical day at home, and their impressions of the Capital City.

by PETE REINWALD

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VINYL REVIVAL HITS HOME People are embracing entertainment nostalgia, especially when it comes to a national resurgence in vinyl records. Even pinball machines and video-game arcades are experiencing a resurgence.

by KAITLYN HENDERSON and ZACHARY BETHEL

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TWO CENTURIES OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN Our series on Tallahassee’s historic churches continues with First Presbyterian, which opened in 1838.

Today it stands as the city’s oldest public building, with an emphasis on “the betterment of humanity.”

by KAITLYN HENDERSON and SARAH BURGESS

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SPECIAL REPORT The M.T. Mustian Center is Tallahassee’s premier surgical and adult ICU facility. In this section, you can learn all of the dedication and planning that went into bringing this state-of-the-art center to fruition.

photography by DAVE BARFIELD

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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Contents

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69

23 MILITARY FAMILY Working to keep a veteran’s memory alive.

47 FASHION Autumn

means it’s time to evaluate your closet.

28 PERSONALITY Dog

32 SPORTS The

GASTRO & GUSTO

trainer Greg Oyer reigns as the master of mutt.

36 EDUCATION

FSU professor digs her groundbreaking work in Italy.

A fun-loving beauty expert discusses motivation.

66 LIBATIONS W XYZ Bar follows the ABCs of a lively downtown.

40 CHAMPION Chef John Minas uses food to improve lives.

44 HEALTH & FITNESS

How years of stress on your knees can creep up on you.

56

WHAT’S IN STORE: Cozy comforts within reach.

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168 NEIGHBORHOODS SouthWood: Some residents never want to leave there.

16 18 20 226 230 234

EXPRESSION

69 MUSIC The RockitZ

DESTINATIONS

123 GETAWAYS Egypt

72 BOOKS The Capital

128 QUICK TRIP

61 DINING OUT Savour: an entrepreneur’s taste and his wife’s touch.

Watering strategies for the dry season.

IN EVERY ISSUE

52 CITIZEN OF STYLE

stomp and circumstance of polo at Maclay School.

61

PANACHE

166 GARDENING

have a blast with 12 members, including five horns.

City offers a club for every reader.

offers a trip far back in time.

Apalachicola Airboat Adventures touts a look at the real Florida.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER EDITOR’S LETTER FEEDBACK SOCIAL STUDIES DINING GUIDE POSTSCRIPT

INSIDE: A CHEF WITH A SPICE FOR SERVICE AND A MUSIC STORE THAT’S IN THE GROOVE

+

SPECIAL REPORT:

A detailed look at TMH’s new M.T. Mustian Center

ABODES

153 INTERIORS The right

162 EXTERIORS

window dressings can add life to your home.

Front porches aren’t coming back — they never went away.

MeetTEAM TAGGART

FSU’s football coach emphasizes family on and off the field

ON THE COVER:

Florida State University football coach Willie Taggart is joined by, from left, son Willie Jr., wife Taneshia, daughter Morgan and son Jackson on the field at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Photo by Alicia Osborne

PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE (61), JOHNSTON ROBERTS (69), BRUCE PALMER (168) AND COURTESY OF MY FAVORITE THINGS (56)

323

HONORING OUR DONORS

C H U C K

&

P A T T Y

M I T C H E L L

Friends of Rikki Endowment

Chuck and Patty’s golden retriever, Rikki, a Hurricane Katrina rescue dog, encountered more than 20,000 people through the Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy Program. The couple created an endowment in Rikki’s honor after her death in 2016 to support the program.

struggling to read gain confidence by reading to our dogs.

We’re in hospices and rehabilitation facilities, and we work in the courts with survivors of sexual and violent crime.

TMH is taking its role as a health leader seriously by helping people throughout the community.

How did Rikki change lives?

What has this endowment meant to you?

CHUCK: A woman recently came up to me and said, “You won’t recognize me, but you and Rikki worked with me.” She had been terribly burned in a car accident, and when we visited her, she only had one part of her body that could be touched without pain. That was her hand. She was able to pet Rikki, and she said it was transforming. These animals affect people in ways human beings can’t. It makes an impact, especially on people who have experienced trauma.

What is unique about the Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy Program?

CHUCK: There are hundreds of hospitals with animal therapy programs for patients, families and staff, but TMH sends its teams off campus. We’re in schools to help children who are

PATTY: It’s heightened our gratitude for having had time with Rikki and for everything we learned through her.

We’re also thankful that we can continue to have an impact with our new therapy dog, Sharon.

Why is giving back important to you?

PATTY: I was at an event with Chuck and the speaker said something that resonated with me: “There are three types of people: People who live in the community, people who live off the community and people who live for the community.”

Chuck and I did not have children. We have each other, we have our animals, and we both came to each other at a point and realized that we were both wed to our community.

don’t think of it as philanthropy. “ We It’s just the meaning of life. It’s why we’re here.

It’s what makes a community. “ TA L L A H A S S E E M E M O R I A L H E A LT H C A R E F OTALL U N DAT ION AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM September–October 2019

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Contents

SEPT/OCT 2019

156

TURNER’S FINE FURNITURE

170

DEAL ESTATE

179

TALLAHASSEE 100 CLUB

195

MEDICAL PROFILES

From an entire in-home redesign to a simple stepping up of decor, this company’s access to the top 50 furniture manufacturers in the world ensures your space will be picture-perfect for you.

131

A private, gated estate on five sprawling acres in northeast Tallahassee is on the market.

A beautiful Eurpoean influenced home is for sale in the admirable Golden Eagle neighborhood.

↑ VISIT THE BEACH

This special section is shore centric as we explore the unique qualities of Northwest Florida Beaches. Wine, dine, dive and attend the events of this beautiful region.

50

← THE GEM COLLECTION

Five important steps to fine jewelry maintenance, straight from the source.

54 NARCISSUS

58

Fall fashion is in full force, and Narcissus is just the store to outfit you in the latest and greatest trends. From fun fur to fresh florals, enter the season with style and grace.

174

New to the practice is the luxuriously fresh Hyrdafacial MD, a high-tech facial that provides cosmetic and health benefits to your skin. Face fall with a fresh face.

FIELDER TREE SERVICE

With hurricane season upon us, Fielder is here to help when the unexpected occurs.

TALLAHASSEE PLASTIC SURGERY

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76

Tallahassee means business, and this group of professionals sets out to aid, counsel and encourage business in the Capital City. Meet the members and learn their mission.

↑ COUNCIL ON CULTURE & ARTS

Cory Williams, an artist, muralist and developer of a youth center of arts and agriculture, talks music, vegan food, super powers and more in an interview with COCA.

PROMOTION

September–October 2019

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↖ FORGOTTEN COAST MAP Our illustrated map orients you to a historic and picturesque region of the Gulf Coast that shies from the spotlight.

NEXT ISSUE BEST OF TALLAHASSEE WINNERS 10

In a special section, we introduce you to a bevy of dedicated health professionals, who discuss their skills, backgrounds and ways in which they help you navigate key decisions on health care.

CALENDAR

Fall ushers in a calendar full of festivals, performances, crafts fairs, Emerald Coast events and more.

◆

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

PHOTOS BY SCOTT CHILDS, TOMLINSON MARKETING GROUP FURNISHINGS COURTESY OF TURNER’S FINE FURNITURE (156) AND SOLOMON KENNEDY (76) AND COURTESY OF THE GEM COLLECTION (50) AND FLORIDA’S MOST RELAXING PLACE (131)

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

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Setting your course is the smart thing to do.

Contact us today so that we can help you chart out your dream retirement.

Schedule a Retirement Review at www.ExploreRetirement.com or 866.682.1177 Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor. Insurance products are offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. Capital City Bank and Capital City Investments are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial.

Not FDIC Insured • Not Bank Guaranteed • May Lose Value • Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Not a Bank Deposit Neither Capital City Investments nor any of its advisors are affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Florida or any Florida Retirement System (FRS) programs.Investors who choose to use the services of Capital City Investments will do so independently from any FRS benefit program.

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September–October 2019

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MY MOM CARES ENOUGH ABOUT ME TO GO ON VACATION. Look. I’m a lot to handle. Most children, while angels, stress out their parents.

I’m glad my mom took time for herself by taking a weekend trip to Dunwoody where she can relax, shop and eat great food. She may even have a glass of wine. No judgement. A trip to Dunwoody makes my mom a better mom.

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Plan your Atlanta-area trip at DiscoverDunwoody.com September–October 2019

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We Sell Homes with Character...

BUCK LAKE ESTATE 6957 Buck Lake Road Listed at $1,750,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Full Baths | 2 Half Baths | 9,998 Sq Ft Spectacular gated estate located on 5+ sprawling acres.

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Elegant master suite with fireplace. Spacious game room, theater and “crows nest” lookout.

MIDTOWN CHARMER 1126 Carriage Road Listed at $995,000 4 Bedrooms | 2 Full Baths | 2 Half Baths | 5,256 Sq Ft Beautiful custom brick home in the heart of town on quiet cul-de-sac! Appointed with antique wide-plank heart pine floors, 9-foot ceilings with triple crown molding, extensive millwork, plantation shutters and 2 gas fireplaces. Gorgeous foyer leads to study and formal dining. Expansive living and family room offers wet bar and wall of tall windows. Eat-in kitchen with integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator, double Wolf ovens, Thermador gas cook top and Bosch dishwasher. Master on main floor features a fully remodeled bath. Theatre room with 90” projection screen opens to covered patio overlooking a pergola and slate surround immersion pool in a beautifully landscaped, private back yard.

H E T T I E S P OO N E R 8 5 0 . 5 0 9 . 4 3 3 7 | C A L Y N N E H I L L 8 5 0 . 5 4 5 . 6 1 4 0 | L I N D S AY E L L I O T T 8 5 0 . 5 4 5 . 2 4 6 3 HILLSPOONER.COM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September–October 2019

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TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE

ADVANCED CUSTOM PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC SOLUTIONS

VOL. 42, NO. 5

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL

• Braces and Supports • Orthotics • Scoliosis Treatment • Pediatric Orthotics and Prosthetics • Upper and Lower Extremity Prosthetics • AmpuShield® Post-Amputation Program

Hanger Clinic celebrates the opening of the state-of-the-art M.T. Mustian Center by our partner Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

2717 Mahan Drive, Suite 2 Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-878-1108 1-877-4HANGER

| HangerClinic.com

Serving Tallahassee, Marianna, and Thomasville

EDITOR Pete Reinwald MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Price EDITORIAL INTERNS Jordan Anderson, Zachary Bethel, Sarah Burgess, Kaitlyn Henderson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lazaro Aleman, Steve Bornhoft, Marina Brown, Bob Ferrante, Pam Forrester, Chay Hughes, Lisa Johnson-Sostre, Natalie Kazmin, Jack Macaleavy, Rebecca Padgett, Audrey Post

CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut ART DIRECTOR Saige Roberts SENIOR PUBLICATION DESIGNER Shruti Shah PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Burger, Jordan Harrison, Lindsey Masterson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 323 Media, Dave Barfield, Lawrence Davidson, Emily Slade Photography, Steven Gray, Shems Hamilton, Scott Holstein, Solomon Kennedy, Deidra Laird, Land • Air • Sea Productions, Jeb MacVittie, Alicia Osborne, Bruce Palmer, Johnston Roberts, Saige Roberts, Brian Rowland, Phil Sears, Shelly Swanger, Suzanne Teng, Tillman Photography, Dan Wiencek, Allison Yii

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATORS Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Johnson-Sostre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Doll, Julie Dorr, Darla Harrison, Linda Powell MARKETING MANAGER Kate Pierson SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett SALES AND EVENTS MANAGER Mackenzie Little SALES AND EVENTS ASSISTANT Abby Crane SENIOR INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Taylor Dashiell

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Melissa Spear CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE/PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Amber Dennard RECEPTIONISTS Natalie Kazmin, Kaitlyn Henderson

DIGITAL SERVICES DIGITAL EDITOR Janecia Britt TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE tallahasseemagazine.com facebook.com/tallahasseemag twitter.com/tallahasseemag instagram.com/tallahasseemag pinterest.com/tallahasseemag youtube.com/user/tallahasseemag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

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

Single copies are $3.95. Purchase at Barnes & Noble, Costco, Books-A-Million, Walgreens and at our Miccosukee Road office.

CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS Tallahassee 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. Tallahassee Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright September 2019 Tallahassee Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Partners of Visit Tallahassee and Member, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

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from the publisher

Football programs have become as much a business as a game. Success comes in cycles, and when things are bad, turn-around professionals are called in to change the culture and, in time, to bring the organization back to good health.

Many of us remember a time when the FSU football team couldn’t win a game. That literally was the case in 1973 under coach Larry Jones, who went 0–11. The following season, with a promising young running back named Larry Key, coach Darrell Mudra went 1–10.

That marked a tough era for FSU football. Yet the fans came out and supported the team. They enjoyed the game, the fellowship and the experience.

Then, in 1976, came coach Bobby Bowden, who turned the Seminoles around. Over time, he built them into a powerhouse and won two national championships in his 34 seasons.

FSU football became so good that fans began to expect — even demand — greatness. So in Bowden’s final years when the team struggled to eke out a winning season, the fans let the coach and university officials know it.

Bowden left and made way for head-coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher, who coached eight seasons and in 2013 gave FSU fans another national championship.

Fisher lost his spirit and winning attitude during his final season here in 2017. He went 5–6 before turning the program over to interim coach Odell Haggins — who won the final two games — and unceremoniously left in the night for Texas A&M University.

FSU then hired Willie Taggart. From Fisher, Taggart inherited a program that had its share of cracks, especially in the offensive line, and cultural dysfunction. He had a massive project in front of him, and it wasn’t the type of situation you could expect anybody to turn around in one year. It will take time.

Taggart’s Seminoles struggled from the start — and too many FSU fans let him have it on social media with toxicity and cruelty and even bigotry and violence. They went far beyond any criticism of Bowden and Fisher.

An especially bigoted and disturbing social media post came after FSU’s 41–14 loss to Florida. Fortunately,

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TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

FSU President John Thrasher condemned the post as “ignorant and despicable,” and many FSU fans joined him in saying so.

Still, we saw and heard too much meanness, impatience and intolerance from a shameful slice of the FSU fan base. A team, community or nation can’t return to its zenith with comments and images that divide, polarize and disgust.

During the spring, the Taggart family graciously welcomed us into their home. Coach Willie and his wife, Taneshia, discussed family life and their children, 12-year-old Jackson, 17-year-old Willie Jr. and adorable 4-year-old Morgan.

The coach told editor Pete Reinwald of his conversations with his sons. They’re athletes, and because they carry their father’s name, they hear things that children shouldn’t have to hear.

Of son Jackson, Taggart said: “I talk to him about those things and why people do certain things and say certain things and why it shouldn’t bother him. You try to explain to him how it works. And be real about it all.”

I invite you to read our feature story, in which Taggart discusses his efforts to infuse a positive, family-oriented culture into the FSU football program. I believe he’ll rebuild the Seminoles and that he, too, will become a national-championship coach.

In the meantime, I encourage those snarky, meanspirited and bigoted fans to take a look in the mirror.

I urge them to realize the effects they’re having on an honorable and dignified family in our community — and that football takes support on and off the field.

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

SCOTT HOLSTEIN

TURNING AROUND A BUSINESS, OR A FOOTBALL PROGRAM, TAKES TIME

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Capital BMW 3701 W. Tennessee St Tallahassee, FL 32304 866-206-6927 Capital-BMW.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM September–October 2019 ©2019 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks

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editor’s letter

THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH AN HERB: I got into bed and figured I might as well get it over with.

So I told her.

“I’ve got garlic up my nose,” I said in darkness.

“You’ve got garlic up your nose,” my wife replied.

I assured her that it was fresh. “One slice in each nostril,” I said.

I could hear her eyes rolling.

I’ll try anything. And after about five years of debilitating sinus problems and headaches, I think I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried sprays, pills, rinses and teas. I’ve tried herbs, peppers, pressure points and please.

I’ve seen doctors and allergists. I’ve sought advice from friends and neighbors. I’ve whined to my kids and colleagues.

And I can’t beat it or bear it.

Consider my medicine cabinet, refrigerator, pantry and bedside table. They hold the following products because doctors have prescribed or suggested them or because I’ve read, heard or believed — it doesn’t take much — that they could help relieve my sinus symptoms: Equate Allergy Relief (“Compare to Zyrtec,” it says), Mucus Relief PE, Wal-itin D, Aleve-D Sinus & Cold, Zinc Cold Therapy, quercetin, Fortify Age 50+ Probiotics, Visine Allergy Eye Relief, Stinging Nettle Blend, Fast Acting Nasal Four, turmeric, Azelastine Nasal Solution, Nasacort Allergy 24 HR, PinkEye Relief, Essential Oils, Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Solution, Mold, Yeast & Dust Homeopathic, Rhinocort Allergy Spray, NeilMed Sinus Rinse, Dristan 12-Hour Nasal Spray, Sinusalia Homeopathic Medicine, organic apple cider vinegar, honey, Breathe Easy tea, Organic Tulsi Holy Basil Herbal Tea, jalapeno slices, garlic … and Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.

Regarding that last item, I don’t want to talk about it. My wife puts it in the category of what I did with two slices of garlic.

If I thought it would work, I’d shove my electric bike up my nose.

I wake up with a scratchy eye, a puffy eyelid and a throat full of yuck. By noon, I’m foggy headed and might forget what you told me 15 minutes ago. By 3 p.m., I’m hardly able to write this or anything else. And I’m a certified grouch.

Some of the above products provide temporary relief to a yearround problem.

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TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

SAIGE ROBERTS

A CONGESTION CONFESSION

Tests show no allergies, which means I can’t blame Tallahassee’s tree pollen. My allergist remains attentive and helpful in trying to find a solution.

Regarding my throat full of yuck, he immediately did his best to make me feel good about it.

“You might be what we call a ‘Post Nasal Drippy Boy,’ ” he said.

In the meantime, I spend a lot of time on the web, especially on YouTube. Causes include, depending on the source, a diet including too much of this and not enough of that; something in the air; nasal polyps; blockages; a sensitive nose; a leaky gut; a deviated nasal septum; and my childhood addiction to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

YouTube offers one miracle cure after another. Each gives me hope, inspiration and courage.

Take the post entitled “Drink This and Say Goodbye to Sinusitis Forever.” Ingredients: a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar, juice from one lemon, one tablespoon of organic honey, one teaspoon of cayenne pepper, half a cup of tap water.

The post showed a thousand thumbs-up and only 66 thumbs down, so I found myself ready for a miracle.

I drank it and felt good — for a half hour.

Next step: Tell my wife what I’ve just done with a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

PETE REINWALD preinwald@rowlandpublishing.com

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Appreciation for our 40th Anniversary We are right behind you. Governor’s Square opened in August 1979, and we were one of the first tenants. We moved out in 2016 to the old Atlanta Bread Company building due to the astronomic rent.

Congratulations!

Guy Moore Owner, Garnet & Gold

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40 YEARS

Tallahassee Magazine celebrates its ruby anniversary and looks back on four decades of events in the Capital City

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@tallahasseemag Tallahassee Magazine @TallahasseeMag

SETTING IT STRAIGHT Mick Moloney is a musician and folklorist. In our July-August issue, we misspelled his name in an article about Florida Folk Heritage Award winner Jane Wells Scott.

We welcome your letters about articles and photos that you’ve seen in Tallahassee Magazine.

We also welcome your coverage suggestions and your thoughts on community issues. To write a letter to the editor, email preinwald@ rowlandpublishing.com or send it to Pete Reinwald, editor, Tallahassee Magazine, 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Please include contact information and keep letters to fewer than 200 words. We edit for length and clarity.

PHOTOS BY ZINKEVYCH / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (BEAUTY LINKS) AND COURTESY OF THE HENDERSON (GIVEAWAY) AND THE GEM COLLECTION (STYLE LINKS)

From the gorgeous Henderson: A Salamander Beach & Spa Resort comes a fantastic getaway opportunity that you don’t want to miss! Enter for your chance to win a TWO-NIGHT WEEKEND GETAWAY, INCLUDING A SPA CERTIFICATE FOR TWO AND DINNER FOR TWO.

2019

LINEUP AT COLLEGETOWN

RAY FULCHER

ADAM DOLEAC

VELCRO PYGMIES

SEPTEMBER 6

SEPTEMBER 20

FSU VS. ULM

SEPTEMBER 27

FSU VS. LOUISVILLE

FSU VS. NC STATE

JAMES BARKER BAND

HARDY

TREA LANDON

NOVEMBER 1

NOVEMBER 15

FSU VS. MIAMI

FSU VS. ALABAMA ST.

OCTOBER 25

FSU VS. SYRACUSE

*FAMILY WEEKEND

*HOMECOMING

FSU_BLOCKPARTY / F R I D AY N I G H T B L O C K PA R T Y

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PROFILING THE PURSUITS, PASSIONS AND PERSONALITIES AMONG US

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MILITARY LIFE

KEEPING HIS MEMORY ALIVE Through generations, a family honors the life and service of a sailor killed at Pearl Harbor and buried in Tallahassee

by PAM FORRESTER

PERSONALITY photography by BRUCE PALMER

Whispers of Obedience

|| SPORTS

Polo Pleases:Mounting Evidence

|| EDUCATION

Digging Her Work

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Emily Golz (sister of Earl Baum) and her daughter Sandy DeLopez look through photos and mementos of Earl.

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is family members, including those in Tallahassee, can tell you every detail, regaling listeners with colorful stories of the short life of Earl Paul Baum.

As the oldest of five, he grew up with three sisters and a brother in a close-knit Chicago neighborhood near Wrigley Field.

At 17, he joined the Navy and shipped off half way around the world to serve on the USS Oklahoma, based in Pearl Harbor. His family would never see him again.

Baum died as a seaman first class among 429 crewmembers on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japan’s attack drew the U.S. into World War II. In March, almost 78 years later, Baum found a final resting place in Tallahassee, the culmination of an extraordinary story in which his remains were identified only last year.

That happened through DNA tests involving his three sisters, including his youngest, Tallahassee resident Emily Golz, 92. The two other sisters are May Gresh, a Pinellas County resident,

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and the late Gloria Yauch. His brother, Alver, died years ago in a car accident.

“A part of the family died when he died,” niece April Bruckmann, 60, daughter of Gresh, said of Earl Baum.

Baum’s family continues to do all it can to keep his memory alive. That might not seem difficult, since families of servicemen killed in Pearl Harbor tell you that the day became seared in their memories for generations.

Yet Baum’s family has continuously and proactively found ways to remember and honor him.

Niece Sandy DeLopez, a Tallahassee resident and the daughter of Emily Golz, remembers visiting aunts, uncles and cousins during the summers of her childhood. Those recollections and memories included family and war stories from the men.

“It was an ongoing litany always including stories of Earl,” DeLopez said.

One story involved her father and uncle Alver, who landed in jail after some boys had picked a fight. The two didn’t call their parents. They called Earl, a teenager at the time, whom they knew would be

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able to soothe the adults enough to get the two boys out of jail.

A niece, Audrey Nicpon, Alver’s oldest daughter, who still lives in the Chicago area, repeats such stories about the young Earl. She picked up the tales at family gatherings, she said, because her father could never talk about the older brother he idolized.

“Earl was always playing jokes,” she said. “He was active, funny, the family prankster leading everyone on wild adventures.

“That is where every Earl story would start. If anyone did something that was a ‘bonehead’ move but it still turned out OK, they would say, ‘You must be related to Earl.’ ”

photography by BRUCE PALMER

HONORING OUR DONORS

C L A U D E

W A L K E R

Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center Claude’s wife, Sharon, who died in 2005, inspired people throughout Tallahassee as an active volunteer and advocate for women with breast cancer. Along with friends, family members and supporters, Claude has raised $530,000 to support the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH).

How did the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center become a reality?

We wanted to do something to honor Sharon, so we started a fund at the TMH Foundation. It gave me something to do. I was driven to raise money, and I would go out and talk to as many people as I could. It was part of my grieving process and healing. We’ve carried it on now all these years because we know the need is great.

How have you seen cancer treatment at TMH improve over the past 14 years?

When Sharon was sick, TMH did not have a dedicated cancer treatment center. We had two young boys, and it was exhausting driving to Tampa for treatment. Now, people in

our region have a place to receive treatment in Tallahassee.

We have a phenomenal radiology/oncology team and the best equipment available right here at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center.

What has it been like to work through the TMH Foundation?

They’ve really given me a voice in the process. I’ve met a lot of people who are of the same mind as I am and want to raise money to help move the hospital forward. Healthcare is one of our biggest issues right now, and I think it always will be, so how we deal with it as a community is important.

What advice do you have for others who want to make a difference?

You’ve got to find out what motivates you. What has had an impact in your life? Is it heart disease? Is it diabetes? I think once people are impacted by something, they wake up and say, ‘This is very important, and I want to help other people.’

Figure out what your passion is and then find a way to help.

“ I think Sharon would be really proud.“ TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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↑ Earl Baum’s sister, Emily Golz of Tallahassee, looks through a commemorative magazine on WWII; ↗ Gold Star family pins along with posthumous Purple Heart. “A part of the family died when he died,” said niece April Bruckmann.

As Baum’s family grew through the generations, family members found ways to jointly and uniquely honor him as a sailor and to cherish his memory as an uncle, cousin or brother.

On Memorial Day or Pearl Harbor Day, the families would plant flags at local cemeteries. During the Tallahassee funeral service in March, David and Laura Golz dressed their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son in sailor suits with white-trimmed anchors — a salute to their great-great uncle’s naval service.

Allen Baum, Alver’s son, named his children after his uncle Earl Paul Baum.

Now, Earl Brian Baum and James Paul Baum carry on the family name.

Family members even have honored him with defiance. Nephew Aaron Baum, 53, a machinist mate first class petty officer at the time, recalls a moment in the mid-1980s when he was aboard the USS Kansas City.

As Baum explains it, he was manning the rails and rendering honors as his ship passed the memorial of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.

“I was caught facing the wrong direction,” he recalled. “A chief started correcting me, telling me that ‘the Arizona’s over there!’ I replied by pointing to Oklahoma’s mooring block, saying, ‘Yeah Chief, but my uncle died over there.’ I then straightened out, and no

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further corrective action was required … and nothing else was said.”

Three years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Oklahoma was raised from its watery grave. Skeletal remains of the crew could not be identified at the time, so they were buried in a common grave at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, informally known as Punchbowl cemetery.

Many of the families visited the site over the years. Niece Sandy DeLopez did so with her husband, Dr. Tom DeLopez, in 1987. Tom still remembers the words on one of the plaques, which struck a powerful and personal chord with the family.

In these gardens are recorded The names of Americans Who gave their lives In the service of their country And whose earthly resting place Is known only to God

Sandy’s mom, Emily Golz, was just 12 years old when her older brother left home. Decades later, she would take charge in getting his remains identified and would spearhead efforts to bring him home.

As part of a “Keeping the Promise” mission, the Defense Department in 2012 reached out to families of unidentified service members to gather DNA, and three

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years later, officials once again exhumed the remains of Baum and his shipmates.

Using DNA from Baum’s sisters, scientists used mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify his remains — ending 77 years of searching and wondering for the family.

The family chose Tallahassee as a final resting place for Baum because Golz, his youngest sister, lives here, as does DeLopez, his niece.

In March, with full military respect and honors, Baum’s remains were placed at Tallahassee National Cemetery.

Almost 30 members of his extended family came from various states to honor him during the service.

“He was so family oriented, the family clown,” Golz remembered during a family dinner the night before the burial service.

“He would want to be sitting at the family table gathered for his funeral.”

With a wink and knowing eye of someone in her ninth decade, she said, “maybe he is.”

Nephew Raymond Yauch expressed gratefulness that his aunt fought for closure.

With two sons now serving in the military, Yauch says he finds special motivation in keeping his uncle’s story alive.

“I never knew him, but I felt I did,” he said. “These brave souls deserve all the recognition we can give them. Don’t forget their stories.” TM photography by BRUCE PALMER

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↖ For almost five decades, Greg Oyer has trained dogs for Florida and Georgia politicians, dignitaries, business executives and others.

PERSONALITY

Whispers of Obedience

Greg Oyer masters the art of dog training

by PETE REINWALD

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n his spacious southern Georgia classroom just a whisker north of Leon County, the teacher introduces you to his exuberant students and tells you something about them.

Take the one with the big droopy ears.

“That’s Ripple,” Greg Oyer says. “And Ripple is a naughty little English springer spaniel.”

Upon hearing “naughty,” you perk your ears and tilt your head inquisitively. You figure you’re in the right place to do that.

“Oh, yeah — she’s naughty,” Oyer says. “That’s part of the reason she’s here.”

She’s there because he’s there. When it comes to making naughty dogs obedient, Greg Oyer secures a spot in the front of his class. Around these parts, he’s the master of mutt, the faculty of Fido and the Ph.D. of pooch.

And that’s not all.

“You’ve seen the ‘Dog Whisperer’?” asks longtime customer Richard Gardner, referring to the television series that featured California-based dog trainer Cesar Millan. “He’s the East Coast Dog Whisperer.”

Oyer has been training dogs 46 years.

He has done it for Florida and Georgia politicians, dignitaries and chief executives. He has done it with hunting dogs, household dogs and hospital dogs.

He has done it so often and for so long that it’s a wonder he doesn’t bark the answers to your questions.

“I think I was probably born with it,” he says of his love for dogs.

Those who’ve sent their dogs to him say he sports a canine connection that they can’t explain. He can get inside a dog’s head as easily as your dog can get into a nap, the way they explain it. And he can get them to respond.

He does it through calmness, in a tone in which you might talk to your 7-yearold or 14-year-old, they say.

“He’s very, very thorough but never raises his voice,” says Tallahassee resident Benson Green, president of Benson’s Heating & Air Conditioning. “And he never has to hit a dog or even get upset with a dog — always calm, always in control, and the dogs know that. So when he

PHOTOS BY BRIAN ROWLAND

turns on his ‘parent voice,’ you might say he gets their attention.”

During a recent training demonstration with a few dogs that lasted about an hour, Oyer dished out a generous share of pup praise, from “nice job!” to “good boy!” A few students weren’t measuring up, which meant they were “being a little naughty.”

One dog apparently got cocky and guessed incorrectly on a task. Oyer’s response wasn’t to punish him but to call him “Mr. Smartypants.” Another dog he called “Miss Naughtypants.”

“You don’t get upset,” he says. “Dogs learn from their mistakes. If we start punishing them for making mistakes, they feel pretty hopeless.”

Yet he emphasizes that he’s not a “positive-only” dog trainer. He disagrees with those who believe you should never correct a dog.

“That’s not part of life,” he says. “Dogs correct each other all the time. I think it just has to be fair.”

Oyer says he uses a remote training collar, through which a dog trainer or owner can send an electric current that produces a sensation from mild tickling

↑ to a painful shock, according dog owners participate at least “They get recess to the Humane Society of the once every two weeks. here,” Greg Oyer United States. That organiza“What’s the use of owning a says of the dogs he trains on a big tion expresses caution on use Ferrari if you can’t drive it?” Oyer piece of property in of the devices because of the says. “It’s a waste of money.” southern Georgia, potential for abuse or misuse.

Oyer works the dogs five just north of Leon County. “They need “Everybody goes, ‘Oh, you days a week with help from these recesses to use a remote trainer? That’s longtime associate Jody Carter, be healthy and so cruel.’ No, it’s not,” Oyer who’s embarking on his own happy.” says. “It’s just as good as the dog-training business. On person using it.”

Saturdays, Oyer works with As he talked, about 20 dogs barked for customers to address, as he calls them, attention in his kennel at this wooded for“problem children.” mer plantation south of Metcalf, Georgia, He says he typically trains a dog for a healthy hound’s run from the Florida line. four to six months. He likes to get them Just beyond the kennel, you see a lake when they’re around six months old but and a “dog beach,” to where four-legged accepts older dogs. students hightail it when they get the In Oyer’s classroom, you’ll meet all OK. They take a dip, shake themselves kinds of dogs. And if he has time, he’ll off and spend the next 10 minutes chasing introduce you to all of them. each other in circles. You swear they’re “You want to meet a famous dog?” he giggling. asks.

“They get recess here,” Oyer says.

Oyer walks you over to the pickup truck “They need these recesses to be healthy of Gardner, the customer who called him and happy.” “the East Coast Dog Whisperer.”

On this day, two of his clients joined him Bogey sticks her head out the driver’s so that they could learn to train their dogs side window. So does Wink, another and to help train other dogs. He insists that Boykin spaniel that Oyer trains.

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↑ Doggie Bits from Greg Oyer AGGRESSION “Most people want a nice, pleasant companion. We don’t do biting dogs here.

I spent most of my life trying to get dogs not to bite.

“Bogey’s famous all over Tallahassee,” Oyer says.

Bogey doesn’t show it. She just pants in the heat, squints in the sunlight and lets you pet her on the head.

She’s a former star of competitive events for hunting dogs, called field trials. And she remains a therapy dog who has made about 1,000 visits to facilities including Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare’s rehabilitation center.

TMH touts Bogey as the first dog to incorporate physical, occupational and speech therapy with its rehabilitation-center patients.

“If she feels like a person is in pain, she’ll put her head on their lap or leg,” Gardner says.

Gardner says Oyer has worked for about 13 years with Bogey and for almost two years with Wink, Bogey’s protégé.

Of Oyer, Gardner says: “Hands down, the best trainer I’ve ever seen.”

Oyer trains dogs mostly for companionship and for hunting. In the case of therapy dogs, he says, he builds a foundation that prepares them for training programs such as the one at TMH. He says he bases training on three actions — go, stop or come. He tells you this in a selfdepreciating manner that suggests he takes his dogs more seriously than himself.

“This doesn’t take a brain surgeon to accomplish,” he says. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

It all starts with obedience, he says.

Oyer introduces you to Paula Joiner, a customer who’s helping to train her dog and other people’s dogs.

Joiner has Ripple — you remember naughty Ripple — on a leash, and they’re walking

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around together. Ripple wears an open-mouth smile and curiously keeps her face turned upward, as though she expects a pork chop to come falling down.

Her eyes stay locked on Joiner’s because she’s looking for cues.

“And notice that she’s not pulling on that lead?” Oyer says of Joiner. “If we pull, they pull back. If I pull on your arm, you have to pull back just to keep your balance. So we use little corrections that I tell everyone are similar to sitting next to your grandmother in church (and you hear), ‘Cut that out!’ And it’s touch and go and touch and go.”

Oyer looks warmly at Ripple, who will grow to weigh about 40 pounds.

“Now she’s getting good eye contact. She’s sitting nice,” Oyer says. “And, let me tell you, this dog is a whirlwind. Nine months old.

She’s going to be a nice little dog. She thinks she weighs 82 pounds, you know. There’s a big heart in that little body.”

She’s among thousands he has trained. Some he finds easier to remember. Among them: a Brittany spaniel who belonged to Gov. Lawton Chiles.

Oyer recalls that Chiles, who died in 1998, loved to hunt quail. That meant he needed a dependable bird dog.

“Every so often, I’d be summoned to the Governor’s Mansion to straighten out a problem,” Oyer says.

Upon greeting him at the back entrance, the mansion staff would kid him about why he was there.

“They’d say, the dog’s been naughty again, hasn’t it?” TM

“We want to teach them how to properly greet another dog.

Greeting is important.

No aggression. If another dog growls at them, they just get away from them. We don’t let aggression build.”

RULES “The truth is, because dogs are pack animals or pack oriented, they’re happier when they have rules. They just want to know where they stand in this world.

And after a while, they quit thinking about it.

Human: “Well, why do you come, dog?”

Dog: “Well, I don’t know.

I just do when they call.”

“That’s what we want,” Oyer says.

MENTORS “I want to give credit to all of those wonderful old-timers who taught me my trade. They were kind to dogs.

I kind of gravitate to people like that. I’ve seen some trainers — you know, whoa, I wouldn’t do that.

But at least I learned what not to do.”

PHOTO BY BRIAN ROWLAND

→ Dog owners owe it to themselves to participate in the training of their dogs, Greg Oyer says.

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Polo pleases: Mounting Evidence Television star John Walsh is among those who have had a hand in Maclay School’s fun event story by PETE REINWALD and photography by JEB MACVITTIE

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t’s a bit of soccer, a bit of hockey and a lot of horse.

It supposedly originated two centuries ago as a training game for elite troops in Persia.

For four years, polo has held solid ground in Tallahassee on the strength of an annual event that benefits Maclay School.

Polo Under the Oaks features experienced players from state and international circuits, plus spectators who appreciate a relaxing setting and Maclay’s science programs, the beneficiary of ticket sales.

The annual event is the inspiration of Kelly and Mike Beck, lead donors of Maclay’s Beck Family Research Center.

The event takes place at the family’s Ten Oaks Farm in Jefferson County.

It includes all the stomp and circumstance of traditional polo, including a parade of players and later a “divot stomp,” in which spectators walk onto the field to repair torn ground.

Last year’s event drew about 300 people, said Kim McWilliams, Maclay’s communications director.

They got to see John Walsh, longtime host and executive producer of television’s “America’s Most Wanted.”

He’s a polo enthusiast who has played in charity events for years.

“Imagine trying to hit a ball while you’re riding 35 miles an hour, at the same time another guy is checking you as hard as they do in hockey,” Walsh told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 2011. “Horses go down. There are falls, crashes.”

McWilliams said Maclay is pausing polo this year but plans another event for November 2020.

For those who can’t go a year without it, we offer a photographic look at last year’s event.

Above, Maclay School mom Victoria Cambell closes in on John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted.” At left, U.S. Polo Association umpire Brent Mirikitani watches as U.K. polo player Max Segunda takes control. Farther left, spectators take a break from the action.

Admission to last year’s event was $100 to $200 per car for so-called tailgaters.

Otherwise, a $150 perperson ticket included seating, lunch and champaign. Proceeds from the annual event, which will pause this year and continue next year, benefit Maclay’s science programs.

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Above, umpire Brent Mirikitani, with Maclay dad Stuart Campbell, Maclay senior Pippa Campbell and Maclay mom and graduate Kelly Beck, a lead donor of Maclay’s Beck Family Research Center. Below right, spectators participate in a traditional “divot stomp” to repair damage to the playing field. Below, intermission activities include a horse of another kind.

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Left, Stuart Campbell, a polo professional, gets in position as Hayden Walsh, son of John Walsh, goes on the attack. Below, the winning Florida Cancer Specialists team includes Finn Segunda, John Walsh, Hayden Walsh and Max Segunda. With them are John Walsh’s wife, Reve, second from left, and Daphne Wood. Below left, Maclay flag carrier Maddie Cordell.

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→

Florida State University archaeologist Dr. Nancy de Grummond shows a recent book that goes to the heart of her work.

EDUCATION

DIGGING HER WORK FSU professor pulls treasure from the rich earth of Italy’s Chianti region

by MARINA BROWN

→ LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ITALIAN EXCAVATION SITE. Florida State University’s Department of Classics says it began archaeological excavation and research at Cetamura del Chianti in 1973. To learn more about the site, visit tinyurl.com/fsucetamura.

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he hardly inspires comparisons to a woman Indiana Jones. She’s not much more than five feet tall, and at this moment, she’s smartly dressed and a bit concerned about a hairdresser’s appointment.

So you wouldn’t immediately assume that the grandmother hopping out of a tiny Fiat is none other than Dr. Nancy de Grummond, a Florida State University archaeologist who routinely descends by pulley into ancient Etruscan wells.

It wouldn’t immediately be obvious that her resume includes editorship or authoring of 10 books and over 70 articles. She also has supervised 12 dissertations and taught more than 400 FSU students how to dig in the Italian dirt of an archaeological site that she has made her own for the last 36 years.

De Grummond is an expert in Etruscan, Hellenistic and Roman archaeology, and she’s FSU’s M. Lynette Thompson Professor of Classics.

In collaboration with FSU and the Italian government, de Grummond’s work has produced thousands of artifacts that reflect the rise and fall of civilizations and periods of influence, from the early

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Etruscan civilization of ancient Italy to artisans of the Middle Ages.

About 300 of the artifacts from de Grummond’s archaeological site, the Etruscan settlement of Cetamura, became an exhibit at the National Archaeological Museum in Florence in 2017. She excitedly says many of her findings will land in a new museum in the province of Siena, near the Cetamura site.

In the small town of Gaiole in Chianti, surrounded by abbeys, crenelated castles and undulating vineyards, the Museo Civico Alle Origini del Chianti will display pitchers and pots, bronze votive figurines and

↑ Dr. Nancy de Grummond examines studentmade artifact replicas in her office in Dodd Hall at FSU. These pieces would have been used as urns. photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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↑ Archaeologist Nancy de Grummond says she sometimes thinks of herself as an anthropologist because her work and knowledge tell “the story of real human beings.”

offerings to the gods, plus ancient grape seeds that prove that the viticulture of the region was thriving over 2,000 years before.

Beyond the birth of her four children, she says, this museum will be her crowning achievement.

When it comes to citing other highlights and awards, including recognition for her teaching, she says with a laugh, “it’s hard to choose just a few from my career and life.” But she has had many.

Growing up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, de Grummond was always fascinated with people different than herself.

Languages had captivated her by the time she was in high school. As a Latin major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she found that one interest spilled into another.

After honeymooning in Italy, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in art history. Her FSU career began in 1977 as an assistant professor in classics.

De Grummond today can handle herself in Italian, Spanish and Russian. And she acknowledges a spiritual connection to her work in quiet moments inside a tomb.

“As an archaeologist, you have to know everything — art, history, languages, literature, soil science, cartography … yet sometimes I think of myself as an anthropologist, because all of this tells the story of real human beings.”

Another of de Grummond’s life’s highlights is helping to do just that.

Courtesy of the FSU Facility for Art Research, she now can display 3-D facsimiles of her excavated artifacts.

From shards and pieces, technicians can build entire bowls and pots from plastic filaments that, when painted, can be studied by everyone from graduate students to young children with visual disabilities at Tallahassee’s Lighthouse for the Blind.

“I love bringing people together in this way,” she said.

At age 78, de Grummond appears to be only hitting her stride. TM

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←

John Minas fills his basket for select clients to whom he provides private chef services through his company, Minas Hospitality.

CHAMPION

THE MINAS TOUCH

Former Governor’s Mansion chef shares his taste for family, food and the delicious space in between

by CHAY HUGHES

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sk anyone. Meeting Chef John Minas and completely adoring him are pretty much the same thing.

So I wasn’t surprised at how thoughtful the Watertown, Massachusetts, native was when he arrived early for our interview at one of Tallahassee’s newest dining establishments. He was even so kind as to grab a table toward the back in order for us to, I assumed, chat candidly about his career and next steps in the Capital City.

But one appetizer in, it became apparent why we had been so strategically placed.

Chef John wanted to keep an eye on the kitchen.

“Some things just can’t be helped, you know?” Minas, 34, said with a laugh. “I grew up in the kitchen.”

In culinary circles across the state and even the nation, Minas is celebrated for

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serving as the executive chef to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator, and first lady Ann Scott, as well as for launching The Edison Restaurant and working alongside celebrity chef Art Smith at Reunion Kitchen in Madison.

He’s now leveraging that lengthy resume to provide mostly in-home private chef services to select clients through his company, Minas Hospitality.

In 2011, when he threw his name in the hat for one of the Sunshine State’s top culinary positions, Minas was unknown.

“I was sitting with a buddy in Boston when I got a call that the new governor in Florida was looking for an executive chef,” he said. “I told them, ‘Thank you so much for calling, but there’s no way I’m qualified enough.’ When we hung up, my buddy made a joke and said, ‘Good thing you turned them down because there’s no photography by PHIL SEARS

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THE

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↑ When he’s not shopping for produce, chef John Minas spends much of his time in private homes helping clients with specific diets. Menus for medically restricted diets are among his specialties.

way you’d get that job.’ That was enough. I knew I had to prove both of us wrong.”

At just 26 years old, Minas beat countless applicants for the executive chef position at the Governor’s Mansion.

And it didn’t take long before Tallahassee was buzzing about his arrival: “Have you been to the Governor’s Mansion lately? The new chef is amazing.

Yes! My son had a field trip there last week. He couldn’t stop talking about Chef John.”

“I was there for a banquet. The food was delicious.”

Listening to the chatter then, it was if this new hot-shot chef had been a gift from above. According to Minas, though, the recipe to his success had been simmering for generations.

“Every Saturday when I was a kid, my dad would pick up my grandfather with me and my brother in the car,” he said.

“We’d drive to Haymarket, which was a farmers market before farmers markets were cool. My grandfather would handselect the produce he wanted, and my dad would barter with them for the best price. We’d end up leaving with a case of strawberries for like $8. And that was our day.”

On Sundays at the Minas house, things always heated up a little. Church,

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family time and lots of cooking were always on the menu — especially for John’s paternal grandfather, Bashir.

“I just loved hanging out with him,” said Minas, the third of four children to Syrian immigrants, Mikhail and Mariette Minas.

“My grandpa passed away right around my 15th birthday. After that, I started thinking about what I shared with him.

All of my best memories of him were in the kitchen.”

After high school, Minas decided to pursue a career as a chef. Convincing his traditional, orthodox family that culinary school was the right step was no easy sell, though. Especially for dad, Mikhail.

Minas says his father was dedicated to helping any family member in Syria navigate the U.S. immigration system if they were ready to move to the United States.

It’s a legacy his kids have remembered fondly since Mikhail passed away in October.

“My dad did not want him to go,” Lucy Minas, John’s oldest sister, said with a laugh, recalling her brother packing his bags for his first semester at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City.

“I think it was just Johnny not being here. It was all of this unknown. It didn’t

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

take long for Dad to come around, though. He saw that it was the right choice. He could not have been prouder of Johnny. There’s just something about that kid. Johnny is our golden boy.”

His passion for food may have come from his grandfather. But his passion for family? All Mikhail, he says.

“I am definitely my father’s son,” Minas said with a smile.

That means he was instilled with a work ethic that won’t quit.

Most days you’ll find the chef in private homes helping clients with specific diets lead more healthful, delicious lives. In addition to Mediterranean cuisine — his favorite — and Southern fare, menus for medically restricted diets have become his specialty.

In the last year, though, he also has provided inspiration and background research for a cookbook, gone on a culinary tour across the state, hosted group cooking classes in Tallahassee, and logged in many hours supporting local nonprofits, such as Autism Cooks and Chemo Uncovered.

Basically, there’s no telling where Chef John might show up and what he might cook up.

“Tallahassee has been very good to me,” he said. “I’m excited to see where it takes me next.” TM photography by PHIL SEARS

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September–October 2019

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THE

323 HEALTH & FITNESS

Hardly Doing Flips A painful example of how years of stress on your knees can creep up on you

by LISA JOHNSON-SOSTRE

N

ow that it’s summer, I can say from experience that sometimes it hurts, really hurts, to ring in a new year.

As 2018 faded away, I was taking down decorations from the Christmas tree, and as I stepped down from the ladder, I heard and felt something that I hadn’t heard or felt before. I knew something was wrong — painfully wrong — with one of my knees.

And I knew this day would come.

I’ll explain. I grew up doing gymnastics. For about eight years until age 13, I jumped and twisted and twirled in the air and landed squarely on my feet — though often squarely on my rear.

I loved it. No, not landing squarely on my rear. I loved the competition, the camaraderie and the ability to spend my spare time flying around with friends.

For those eight years, I wasn’t committed enough to practice every day, yet I practiced or competed three or four times a week. That amounted to tens of thousands of times in which I landed on my feet and subjected my knees to what probably amounted to two lifetimes worth of stress.

Before my Christmas-tree crackle, I’d had knee problems for years, enough to require seven surgeries — yet I’d always managed to remain mobile, functional and relatively free of pain.

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TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

↑ Lisa Johnson-Sostre says her doctor fitted her with a brace that stabilized her knee but made her feel like the Bionic Woman.

But not this time.

For the next few days after that post-holiday “pop,” I couldn’t bend my right knee. I couldn’t straighten it, either. I couldn’t sleep with it and couldn’t work on it.

You should have seen it. No — you shouldn’t have. I’m not sure I can describe the swelling, but I’ll try: Picture an adult woman’s knee with a softball inside of it. Now picture somebody hitting that softball with a bat. That’s how it felt.

Tylenol didn’t help. Neither did Advil — lots of it. I found the pain so sharp and unbearable that I no longer wanted a pain reliever. I wanted a chainsaw — and I wasn’t kidding.

I figured the pain and swelling might subside. I figured wrong, and come the New Year, I arrived at the doctor’s office in search of a remedy and relief, or a 3.5-horsepower Black and Decker.

My doctor took X-rays, looked at the images and asked me what in the world I had been doing. “Not landing on my butt,” I thought.

Seriously, gymnasts risk either long-term complications from landing correctly — squarely on their feet — or instant catastrophe from landing awkwardly. You might have seen the horrific video in April of Auburn University gymnast Samantha Cerio, who dislocated both of her knees after she missed her landing and retired

from the sport. I can’t imagine that level of pain and trauma.

Friends and family consider me pretty tough — you have to be when you live in Tallahassee and openly flaunt your love for the Miami Hurricanes. And I think I maintain a fairly high threshold for pain. Still, this pain shot up and reached my mental and physical limits.

The doctor drained the fluid from my knee and then put my knee in a brace. He told me to take it easy.

Two days later, the pain returned — twice as bad as before. So I wanted that chainsaw all the more.

I returned to the doctor, who suggested that I get an MRI and scheduled a follow-up with an orthopedic surgeon.

The surgeon offered options — including partial or total knee replacement — or exploratory surgery to determine the source of the pain and fluid. The surgeon also fitted me with a knee brace — a bigger, turbo-charged version of the original.

This one ran up virtually the length of my right leg and made me feel like the Bionic Woman. It wasn’t a good look.

The new brace helped to better stabilize my knee, but the pain refused to go away. The pain grew with the size of my knee, which soon regained softball status. Before you knew it, Bionic Woman with the softball-size knee was drawing stares, comments and winces.

“You’re making ME hurt,” said a man in the Walmart parking lot.

I considered asking him if he had a chainsaw he could spare.

Anyway, I went with the exploratory surgery. The discovery: tears of the medial and lateral, or inner and outer, meniscus of the patellofemoral joint.

You might have heard of patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as “runner’s knee.” It involves pain around the kneecap associated with repeated running and jumping in sports such as track, basketball and, you got it, gymnastics.

I knew the pain as a teen and as an adult — hence those seven surgeries to scrape fragments from my medial and lateral meniscus, which, as many say, acts as a shock absorber for the knee. But the pain or those surgeries never prevented me from doing things I enjoyed, such as biking, swimming and running around with my grandkids.

Of course, that changed in late December.

For the exploratory surgery, they put me under. And I know of only one person who wakes up during exploratory surgery — Bionic Woman with the softball knee.

After finishing the procedure, the surgeon discussed my “knee-joint effusion.” That’s the softball-making fluid that had accumulated around my knee. The surgeon said the fluid in my knee had the consistency of motor oil, that vital fluid in a chainsaw.

He removed my medial meniscus, which he said was now beyond repair.

He told me that without that cushion, I could encounter persistent pain — tell me about it — and arthritis. He recommended replacing my right knee but cautioned that a knee replacement lasts only about 10 years, so if I got one now, it might not be my only one.

He also discovered chondracalcinosis, a condition in which crystals from calcium build up in the cartilage of the joints, causing pain, stiffness and loss of function.

I’ve been getting around better lately. The surgeon’s work has kept that motor oil and softball out of my knee, which means I can go for walks and do more of the things that I enjoy, sometimes even without that brace. So in terms of surgery, I’ll see how it goes.

I suppose I’ll truly find out where I stand in December, when I climb that ladder again. TM Lisa Johnson-Sostre is an ad services coordinator for Rowland Publishing, owner of Tallahassee Magazine.

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September–October 2019

45

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panache SEPT/OCT 2019

REGARDING MATTERS OF ALL THINGS STYLISH

FASHION

CLASSIC CLOSET CLOTHING

Essential and evergreen pieces that you should hold onto

by REBECCA PADGETT

PHOTO BY LIGHTFIELDSTUDIOS / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

↖

For women, a trench coat ranks among the 10 must haves in a rotation of everyday wear, as does a tailored blazer. For men, a sports coat is a must.

CITIZEN OF STYLE Yes, She Can || WHAT’S IN STORE Cozy Comforts TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September–October 2019

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TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

TOP 10 MUST HAVES WOMEN ↗ Men and women should include jeans and plain white tees in their everyday rotations.

of a room with new throw pillows and a rug, but the furniture has staying power.”

The versatility of staple pieces is especially recognizable for men. George Gavalas of Nic’s Toggery points his male shoppers toward white-collared shirts, which are crisp with or without a tie, navy blazers to be worn for business or after hours and dark denims or nice slacks that can transcend from office gathering to weekend wear.

Make sure any outfit fits you well and comfortably. No matter the price you pay or quality of the item, if you’re not comfortable in it, it will never be in style.

Consider these must-haves as pieces in constant rotation for your everyday wear. A staplesavvy closet will provide practical, polished and purpose-filled pieces that will feel like trusted friends. TM

1 T he perfect pair of jeans 2 A tailored blazer 3 Pair of black heels 4 Quality bag 5 Plain white tee 6 A versatile pair of flats 7 Nice pair of dress pants 8 Little black dress 9 Solid colored wrap dress 10 Trench coat

MEN

1 White dress shirt 2 Dark blue jeans 3 Plain white tee 4 Navy or gray suit 5 Quality watch 6 A sports coat 7 Lace-up dress shoes 8 Nice sneakers 9 Khaki chinos 10 Versatile polo

PHOTO BY G-STOCKSTUDIO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

hile leaves may be falling and trees are changing color, fall is the ideal time to evaluate your closet or add some evergreen pieces to your wardrobe.

Trends may be fun ways to experiment and test new waters, but they rush in and out like waves. Classic pieces having staying power and epitomize the essence of true fashion.

Key pieces may not make the latest trend articles, but they don’t need to. They are icons.

Think about it: What piece of clothing is more iconic than the little black dress Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? After that movie made its splash, every woman needed a little black dress.

Speaking of plain and forever hip, consider the trench coat, the key piece of virtually every fictional spy, detective or covert character. The style is sleek, secretive, sexy and effortlessly stylish.

And nothing gets more plain than the white tee — which nevertheless inspired the naming of a popular ’90s rock band.

Anna Reid, owner of Walter Green Boutique, says it best: “A timeless piece never goes out of style and is also typically never part of a trend.”

Trends often involve patterns and a vast color palette. Classic pieces, on the other hand, tend toward neutrals — white, brown, tan, gray, navy and black. This is the case because these natural colors tend to pair well with the printed pieces you try out as trends.

Reid suggests starting out with a basic such as a white T-shirt and pairing it with trending items such as python print pants or colored jeans. Or take a classic structured blazer and dress it up with a patterned pencil skirt or go cool-casual with a pair of skinny jeans.

“Once you have these foundational pieces, you can easily put several outfits together and never look at your closet and think, ‘I have nothing to wear,’ ” Reid said.

With classic comes quality. Because these are pieces you intend to keep and wear for years to come, you should be spending a bit more on these items than you would a trending piece.

“When you invest in core items for your wardrobe, think of it like investing in fine furniture,” said Zoee Baker, buyer/manager at Narcissus. “You can update and change the look

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September–October 2019

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5

PROMOTION

Important Steps to Fine Jewelry Maintenance What your jeweler should (but might not) tell you

Fine jewelry, like great memories, is supposed to stand the test of time.

“Really, there is nothing better,” says Dorothy Vodicka, co-owner of The Gem Collection, “than watching someone’s face light up as they talk about the sentiment behind their fine jewelry.

Whether it is a ring handed down from a beloved grandmother or an engagement ring given five or even 50 years ago, that same glow is there when the person talks about it.” But, how does that piece of jewelry stay as beautiful today as the day it was given?

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The Gem Collection recommends these important steps to keep it lovely:

1

FIND A GOOD JEWELER Before you buy or repair your fine jewelry, locate a jeweler who has been in business at least five years and has a number of good customer service reviews.

The same is true when buying from internet sites: Make sure the site has been up for several years and has good reviews.

The American Gem Society (AmericanGemSociety.com) is a good source for reputable jewelers.

2

BUY THE BEST QUALITY YOU CAN AFFORD Whether you are spending $200 or $20,000 dollars, you can find beautiful and well-made jewelry

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

in almost any price range. Make sure the piece is visually pleasing, then check that it is well made. Look to see that the shank (bottom of a ring) is thick enough to provide years of wear and that the prongs holding any larger stones are thick enough to hold the stone in place for a long time without repair.

3

ACQUIRE A JEWELER’S LOUPE OR A GOOD MAGNIFYING GLASS It is always good to look at any jewelry you are buying under magnification, that way you can see any flaws in the stones or in the workmanship that you may otherwise miss. Jeweler’s Loupes magnify items by 10 times so you can really see what you are buying.

PROMOTION

“Really, there is nothing better than watching someone’s face light up as they talk about the sentiment behind their fine jewelry.”

DOROTHY VODICKA, CO-OWNER OF THE GEM COLLECTION

4

KNOW WHAT SERVICES YOU SHOULD HAVE PERFORMED AND WHEN TO HAVE THEM The Gem Collection recommends these services to keep jewelry like new:  Straighten bent or loose prongs.  Re-tip prongs that are worn and no longer hold stones properly. It is not unusual to have to retip at least one prong every few years.  Size rings that have become too big or too small. As we lose or gain weight, rings must be adjusted by adding or removing small pieces of metal.  Replace loose or missing side and accent stones. It is not uncommon to lose an accent stone over years of wear.  Periodically use rhodium plating on your white gold rings. This should

GO

be done every two-to-five years.

This treatment will have your ring looking like new again.  Restring pearl necklaces. This should be done every two-to-five years, depending on how often the necklace is worn.

5

WEAR YOUR JEWELRY DAILY — BUT DO THESE THINGS  Remove your jewelry before swimming in either saltwater or chlorine-treated water — including hot tubs. Also keep jewelry away from chlorinated products such as bleach or household cleaners.  Store your jewelry in a soft jewelry box or case with separate compartments. This helps avoid metals scratching each other or gemstones.

 Do not store pearls, opals or emeralds in airtight places. They are more porous than other gems and may dry out and crack if not exposed to moisture.  Have your fine jewelry appraised by a Certified Gemologist when it is purchased, and update these appraisals every three-to-five years or as market values change.  Have your jewelry professionally cleaned and checked two-to-four times a year. The Gem Collection provides this service free of charge and it only takes a few minutes to keep your jewelry sparkling like new.

➺ The Gem Collection

3501 Thomasville Road | (850) 893-4171 | GemCollection.com

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September–October 2019

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CITIZEN OF STYLE

YES, SHE CAN Her secret to success: ‘Bite-size pieces’ interview by KAITLYN HENDERSON

Beauty and skincare expert Lisa Davis, the fun-loving founder of Image By Lisa (ImageByLisa.com) and the makeup artist of first lady Casey DeSantis, discusses women, motherhood, motivation and inspiration.

Stop telling yourself that you can’t.

I think sometimes we look at everything and it seems so big, but you have to break it down into small chunks so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. “Oh, I can’t do that.” Well, yeah, you can. You have to break it into small goals. So many of the times we just dismiss it. Whether that is makeup, workouts, reading books, devotions or even time alone. All of it.

You really have to show up for yourself, too, which is hard. And I know that as a woman, because we have to take care of everyone else. Even this week, I looked at my calendar and I was like, “Where are the workouts going to go? Where’s the alone time going to go?” And if you can just weave it in these little bite-size pieces, that’s how it gets achieved. I just look at the calendar and make sure to get it in. And then I break things down into smaller chunks. It’s really hard for me to read a book, for instance. I’m up earlier than everybody else. Everybody’s lunches have to be made. Everybody has to be to school. Every detail of everybody’s life is something that Mom has to take care of. So I go, “How can I read a book?” By tackling one chapter a morning. And that way by the end of the month, hopefully I finish a book instead of getting myself all stressed out that the book is still sitting there and I haven’t touched it. Bite-size chunks, strategic planning. Not being

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↑ With a family, a husband and a career, Lisa Davis strategizes to find time for herself. “So I go, ‘How can I read a book?’ ” she says. “By tackling one chapter a morning. And that way by the end of the month, hopefully I finish a book instead of getting myself all stressed out” about it.

so hard on yourself. You can’t be perfect.

There’s no perfect mom. There’s no perfect entrepreneur. You just do the best you can.

I love to scrapbook, and I never ever get to do it. I love to do it because I can just be alone with my thoughts. I love to piddle around my house and clean. For hours on end. Lights, candles, put on some music.

I’m a hoarder of snacks. I believe that healthy living means being prepared.

That’s something I talk about a lot in my videos and blogs. Having food with you at all times so that you don’t make bad decisions. You’ll always find me with almonds, Kind bars, berries, something. My husband hates it because I always have food with me. But he’s also learned to love it because he never goes hungry.

Rachel Hollis is quite an inspiration.

The whole message is about who you are and who God made you to be. That if you’re a working mom, awesome. Be a working mom and rock it. And if you are a mom who is going to stay at home with your kids, awesome. Stay home with your kids and rock that. But it’s OK to have goals; it’s OK to take care of yourself. It’s

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

OK to prioritize your marriage. Be who you are. That’s what I learn from Rachel Hollis. For a long time, I fit into this box of what I thought I was supposed to be based on what the world told me, what my church told me, what my friends told me.

And then you get to a point in life where you are just like, “I’m just going to live for who I know I’m supposed to be and not worry about what other people want.”

There’s no judgment in my position on things. I just really want to love on women and serve them where they are. Especially during a crisis. That’s why I aligned myself with the Women’s Pregnancy Center, just because I feel like there is very low visibility when it comes to ministries like that. People feel like they are so trapped into maybe one option and really there are a lot of options. There are people who want to come around you and support you and love you and provide for your needs physically and emotionally and spiritually in every single way. Half of my profits go back to the ministry. I just feel like it’s a way to give back. This is something that has had a lasting impact.

Hopefully, as I grow, I want all of my profits to go to this. TM photography by BRUCE PALMER

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PROMOTION PROMOTION

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NarcissusHighly has grown a boutique for every occasion, offering an unparalleled unique experience. ratedinto brands and personalized occasion, offering an unparalleled and your unique experience. rated brands and personalized customer service make Narcissus go-to haven forHighly style and grace in Tallahassee. customer service make Narcissus your go-to haven for style and grace in Tallahassee.

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QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE Make QUEEN JUNGLE Make in them roar OF withTHE animal prints. Blend

them roar in or stand outwith withanimal subtleprints. pythonBlend denim orfearless stand out with subtle python denim or cheetah sweaters, shoes orbags. fearless cheetah sweaters, shoes or or bags.

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2. FUR Be fur-ocious this fall in FUN FUNcolors FUR of Befaux fur-ocious this up falleven in bold fur. Soften

boldedgiest colorsofoflooks faux fur.

Soften up even the in powder blue, the edgiest of looks powder marigold yellow and in deep teal. blue, marigold yellow and deep teal.

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SKIRTS We don’t want to skirt SKIRTS We don’tmid-length want to skirt around this trend: to mini,

around this trend: mid-length mini, feminine skirts are making theirtoway feminine skirts are making their into your closet.

Easy pairings —way into your closet.

Easy pairings — graphic tee, button down or chunky graphic tee, button down or chunky knit sweater. knit sweater.

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DESIGNER BAGS Elevate your look DESIGNER Elevate your look with a designerBAGS bag from Narcissus,

with a designer bagChloe from this Narcissus, introducing See by fall. introducing See by Chloe fall.

Accent your wardrobe withthis a fresh Accent your wardrobe a freshand take on classic styles ofwith handbags take on classic styles of handbags shoes with eye-catching hardware. and shoes with eye-catching hardware.

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“KNOT” YOUR AVERAGE “KNOT” YOUR AVERAGE HEADWEAR Maximize this fall’s HEADWEAR Maximize thisand fall’s feminine trend with knotted

feminine trend with knotted and embellished headbands and captain’s embellished headbands captain’s caps.

Hair accessories areand at the front caps.

Hair accessories are at the front of our minds this season. of our minds this season.

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3 3 STYLINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTIONS SARAH VILLELLA STYLINGS, PHOTOGRAPHYBY AND DESCRIPTIONS MANAGER AND BUYER, NARCISSUS

BY SARAH VILLELLA MANAGER AND BUYER, NARCISSUS

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panache My Favorite Things

➸ Cozy up on the couch with a good book under this super soft MACKENZIECHILDS MOONLIGHT GARDEN THROW. It’s functional while beautiful as an accent piece draped across a chair or bed. The throw blanket comes in two hues: pond, a beautiful blue-green; and orchid, a lively pink. Every throw is handcrafted and woven with a tassel finish, ensuring each piece is unique. ➸ Scent is strongly tied to seasons, and the best way to get ready for fall is to light up a season-centric candle.

THYMES FRASIER FIR STATEMENT COLLECTION CANDLE features a fresh and crisp forest fragrance.

The beautiful jar is etched with white pine needle designs and silver accents. ➸ The THYMES

SIMMERED CIDER CANDLE is reminiscent of a simmering pot of your favorite holiday drink.

The three-wick option is a copper pot with gold accents. Bring warmth with notes of apples, clove, spicy bourbon and malted rum. ↓

A roundup of retail happenings throughout Tallahassee

by REBECCA PADGETT

As the weather cools, we turn to all things cozy and comfy. The slight chill of fall has us relishing candles scented of baked goods, snuggling up with our warmest throw blanket and slipping on cashmere sweaters or luxuriously long scarves.

Local retailers direct us to the cozy comforts that will make it difficult to want to leave the house.

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CANDLES is Quarter Moon’s most popular candle, for good reason.

Not only is each scent lusciously fragrant, but they come in pretty glass embossed jars featuring intricate and eye-catching patterns.

Each scent is represented by a different-colored jar, and they come in three different sizes. Scents that would pair perfectly with fall include goji tobacco orange, French toast and Baltic amber. ↓

➸ Consider a variety of handcrafted mugs ideal for sipping hot tea, coffee or cocoa. Fair-trade MARA MUGS, handcrafted in Mexico, offer masculine and feminine designs, with everything from butterflies, mermaids and birds to mountain scenes, music themes and more.

Quarter Moon Imports ➸ Relax into the warmth of an EYE PILLOW, SHOULDER WRAP OR NECK WRAP, which can be heated in the microwave and used to relieve tension and pain or simply soothe the soul. Each is made with beautiful batik fabric and is filled with organic flax seeds, lavender and rosemary.

These soothing scents mingle when heated to

➸ Nothing sets the season like a luxurious staple sweater. Gypsy Rose Boutique is excited to welcome a contemporary line comprised of finequality cashmere sweaters.

The 27 MILES brand gets its inspiration from the scenic 27 miles of Malibu coastline. The line launched in 2012, featuring fashion items that encompass the SoCal lifestyle with easy, breathable fabrics ideal for cool evenings. The sweater silhouettes are modern with vintage undercurrents, appealing to the young at heart and the old soul.

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gastro&gusto SEPT/OCT 2019

FROM THE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE TO THE PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE

→

Drew and Kim McLeod turned an available space on East Park Avenue into a place where diners could “savor life,” Kim says.

DINING OUT

‘ECLECTIC CHIC’

Savour, a new downtown restaurant, trumpets an entrepreneur’s taste and his wife’s touch

by PETE REINWALD

LIBATIONS photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

W XYZ

|| DINING GUIDE

Page 230

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gastro & gusto

↑ Savour’s Prime Top Sirloin includes chipotle-lime aioli, plus street corn salsa with avocado and heirloom tomatoes. → Scotty Nahoom works the bar, which the owners separated from the dining area via vertical extension of a wall in the middle of the restaurant.

B

efore business began to heat up for the evening, Drew McLeod emerged from the kitchen of his new Tallahassee restaurant in a chef coat.

One patch on the white garment trumpeted the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation. On the left breast, his name appeared in cursive, followed by “DGC,” all official looking and everything.

↑ Savour owner Drew McLeod spends his share of time in the kitchen and proudly wears the playful title of certified “Darn Good Cook.”

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“I’m a certified Darn Good Cook,” McLeod said with a laugh.

Though not a certified chef, he believes he’s really cooking as owner of Savour, among the latest to join the Capital City’s growing downtown upscale dining scene.

Savour opened late last year on East Park Avenue, in the building that Avenue Eat and Drink occupied for the better part of a decade. Online reviews remain strong.

“We’ve far exceeded what we thought we would do initially,” McLeod said.

He’d done this before.

A serial entrepreneur who has lived in Tallahassee for 35 years, McLeod counts Paradise Grill & Bar — a popular Midtown destination for almost two decades — among his projects.

He was winding down an investment and a role as food and beverage partner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tallahassee last fall when he says his wife, Kim, noticed

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

that the former Avenue Eat and Drink building was available.

“She had an interest in remodeling and changing the décor,” he said.

Out went all of the lightning, replaced with elaborate chandeliers in the bar.

Seeking intimacy for diners, the owners also vertically extended a short wall in the middle of the restaurant so that it would create a dining room separate from the bar area.

The dining room walls feature faux French windows on white brick. Other areas tout a style straight out of 19th century England, fulfilling the vision of Kim McLeod.

“Eclectic chic,” her husband says. “Part French, part Victorian, maybe. It’s just a style that she envisioned.”

Kim McLeod says she wasn’t aiming for any specific style as much as a setting.

“I wanted to create an ambiance of beauty, of elegance, yet one that would photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

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gastro & gusto

↑ Kim McLeod says she aimed to create an ambiance that “would exude Southern warmth and charm.” ↑ A charcuterie and cheese board (top right) features local and imported meats and cheeses; ↗ Owner Drew McLeod, left, says he never looks to overpower Brian Knepper in the kitchen. “Chef is the chef,” he says.

exude Southern warmth and charm,” she says. “If I had to boil it all down to one concept, I wanted to make people feel welcome.”

She said her husband asked her to come up with a name for the restaurant.

She said she arrived at the name when she considered what she wanted the restaurant to be — a place where people slow down, savor a good meal and a good conversation and leave feeling better and more fulfilled than when they entered.

“My heart wants people to savor life,” she says. “It’s not just the food. It’s not just the people. It’s the package.”

Hence “Savour,” the British spelling of a word of French roots.

In need of an executive chef, Drew McLeod brought in Brian Knepper, formerly of Table 23, Cypress Restaurant and the Governor’s Club. Shortly after graduation from Johnson & Wales University, Knepper worked at the historic

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salt ought to have some role in the kitchen.

Commander’s Palace in New Orleans and I mostly expedite here and there and work kept his Cajun flair. with Chef. But Chef is the chef.”

When he first met with McLeod, Still, he knows his food. McLeod Knepper says, the restaurant owner points to his certification as a foodservice handed him a list of menu ideas that he had management professional, or FMP, and gathered from feedback on social media. his work over the years with master chefs.

“He said, ‘I don’t want you to be bored In one case, he said, he told a chef from — I want you to have fun with this list and Germany that acquaintances had told him to put your Louisiana take on it and your that he should call himself a chef. McLeod Gulf Coast take on it,’” Knepper said. said he didn’t feel comfortable doing that Knepper said McLeod’s interest in ofbecause he never earned a certification. fering a Northeast-style lobster of sorts “But I said, I’m a darn good cook,” would become “lobster steamed bao McLeod said, recalling buns,” an appetizer featurhis conversation with the ing cold-water lobster, fiveGerman chef. spice aioli, pickled vegetaThat prompted the bles and cilantro.

“Now it’s just fun getting to German chef to add “DGC” Dinner Tuesday–Saturday play around,” Knepper said. to McLeod’s chef coat, Opens at 5 p.m.

McLeod often joins him which McLeod says allows Happy Hour 4­–6 p.m.

115 E. Park Ave. — in his chef coat, of course. him to say in any kitchen: (850) 765-6966 “I always help out,” he said.

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LIBATIONS

W XYZ

Downtown establishment hardly follows the bar template to the letter

by BOB FERRANTE

T

he ABCs of a lively downtown include restaurants, hotels and, of course, bars.

That brings us to the W XYZ. That’s a bar inside Aloft Tallahassee Downtown, and it’s hard to miss. The W XYZ Bar takes up an open area in the hotel lobby with a pool table, a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows, plus soft, comfy chairs and live music.

This is not a hotel bar. This is not a sports bar. This is a funky, modern bar that caters to the “self-expresser,” says Devin Baker, Aloft’s director of food and beverage.

The hotel chain caters even in job postings to “innovative self-expressers who aren’t afraid to draw outside the lines.”

“Our brand values are based on savvy and space,” Baker said. “The lobby is more welcoming here vs. your standard hotel bar.”

What to drink? You could start with a craft beer. W XYZ Bar keeps six on tap, including

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from Tallahassee-based Proof Brewing and Deep Brewing. Others are from nearby breweries or elsewhere in Florida.

You could opt for a cocktail, of course.

One online reviewer expressed appreciation that the W XYZ bartender included fresh strawberries in a spring mule.

Food? W XYZ offers quick bites such as wings, tacos and quesadillas.

A recent evening included clientele who appeared to be mostly travelers for business and pleasure. The dress was casual, the food fresh and the band from South Florida good enough to keep feet tapping.

The bar wants customers conversing — even challenging — when they’re not singing along.

Consider the pool table. “Find a reason to play with someone,” Baker said.

“Our goal is for everyone to mix and mingle.” TM

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

↖ Devin Baker, food and beverage director of Aloft Tallahassee Downtown, says the W XYZ Bar caters to the “self-expesser.” The funky, modern bar takes up an open area of the hotel lobby.

W XYZ Bar is open seven days a week from 5 p.m.–midnight. photography by BRUCE PALMER

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MUSIC A Blast of Brass || BOOKS

Hooked on Books

expression

SEPT/OCT 2019

KEEPING TABS ON ALL THAT MUSES INSPIRE

↗

The RockitZ launched in 2015 when its founding member decided it was time to form a rock band that featured horns.

MUSIC

A BLAST OF BRASS

A dozen musicians strong, The RockitZ combine a five-member horn section and a load of fun

by ZACHARY BETHEL

photography by JOHNSTON ROBERTS

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September–October 2019

69

expression

I ↑ Keyboardist Chuck Cliburn founded the RockitZ while playing

with the Good Samaritan church “praise band.” At top, lead male singer Mike Lynch belts out a tune to the beat of, visible faces from left, Chris Keller, Tom Longfellow, Scott Schimpf, Adam Bennett, Greg Akridge and Cristi Izquierdo.

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t’s a Monday night at Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. Vocalist Michael Lynch, a physical therapist, stands centerstage testing the microphones. He still has his scrubs on.

Keyboardist Chuck Cliburn walks intently around the rehearsal space as the band belts out its version of “Proud Mary.” He makes comments and cracks jokes. He’s having fun, which is easy to do when you’re the leader of an eclectic and unusual cover band called The RockitZ. “We all do this for fun,” Cliburn said. “You’d starve to death if you did it for money.”

The RockitZ exude zeal with a capital Z. They feature 12 members, most in their 40s, 50s and 60s, who otherwise call themselves firemen, lobbyists, IT specialists, medical professionals and then some.

The band includes the regular rock package of guitars, drums, keyboards and bass — plus a whole lot of brass.

Few bands feature two trombones, two trumpets and a saxophone. Perhaps even fewer include a dozen members.

The RockitZ play a mixture of pop, classic rock and soul tunes from artists such as Van Morrison, Tom Petty and, you guessed it, Chicago, which in photography by JOHNSTON ROBERTS

↙ Lead female singer Cristi Izquierdo gets the

crowd going with help from, left to right, Adam Bennett, Adam Gaffney, Greg Akridge and Kent Rodriguez. Below, Tom Longfellow, filling in for saxophonist Rob Shaffer, and Scott Schimpf get into a song with other horn section members.

the late ’60s established a signature brassGorman, whom he played with in Florida heavy sound that continued with big State University’s Marching Chiefs in the success throughout the ’70s and ’80s.

1980s. The rest of the members joined in But trumpet player Scott Gorman a similar manner. says the band is “trying to get into the The RockitZ have no shortage of expe21st century.” As such, the group added rience. Keller said he has played guitar for Florence + The Machine’s “Ship To more than 20 years. Gorman said he has Wreck” and Bruno Mars’ hit “Uptown played trumpet since the 1970s.

Funk” to their repertoire, all with full Nearly every member of the The horn accompaniment.

RockitZ is involved in other ensembles “We try not to do too many songs from around town. Gorman performs with the the same band,” guitarist Chris Keller Tallahassee Brass Quintet; bassist Adam said. “We don’t want to be like the, ‘Oh, Gaffney plays regularly with the Wailin’ hey — that’s the Chicago cover band.’”

Wolves Band; trombonist Greg Akridge When the tunes don’t involve horns, and Schimpf play in the Thursday Night you can find the wind section singing Music Club. Vocalist Lynch, guitarist Kent backup vocals, playing percussion or Rodriguez, trombonist Adam Bennett and generally having a good drummer Walter Kelleher time. play in other bands as well.

Cliburn founded The The group has performed RockitZ in 2015 while at venues such as at Proof playing with the Good Brewing Co. and The The RockitZ perform Samaritan church “praise Junction At Monroe. The at Junction @ band.” With Phil Horning, RockitZ find it difficult to Monroe during the the RockitZ’s original fit all dozen or so members summer. Visible in drummer, Cliburn wanted on stage, so they favor the photo are, from left, guitarist Chris to begin an outside rock larger venues and special Keller, lead male group with a horn section. events such as the American singer Mike Lynch, “I always wanted to play Legion Hall, Tallahassee’s trumpet player in a horn band,” Cliburn Winter Festival of Lights, Scott Schimpf, said.

Springtime Tallahassee and trombonist Adam Bennett, trombonist From then on, a series weddings.

Greg Akridge, of connections formed The wind section has lead female singer The RockitZ. One of the remained intact. But, like Cristi Izquierdo original guitarists knew other bands, The RockitZ and guitarist Kent Scott Schimpf, a trumpet otherwise have seen some Rodriguez. player. Schimpf contacted turnover, which led to the

recent arrival of drummer Kelleher and singer Cristi Izquierdo.

“It takes awhile to get a band stable,” Cliburn said. “A lot of people join a band and they think they know what it means commitment-wise, then it’s three months later and they’re like, ‘Man, I don’t know.’”

And as for the odd spelling, blame the 21st century. Cliburn said “The Rockets” website domain was already taken.

“We weren’t allowed to become the Lady Killers,” guitarist Rodriquez said jokingly, referring to a term for men who tend to attract or seduce women. “So we had to think of something else.” TM

ON PAGE 69

↑ Drummer Walter Kelleher is among the

latest additions to the band. Founder Chuck Cliburn points out that “it takes awhile to get a band stable.”

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September–October 2019

71

expression

↑ Library services specialist Brenda Johnson, right,

leads a discussion on urban fiction at the Dr. B.L. Perry branch library on South Adams Street. All of Tallahassee’s public library locations offer at least one book club. “The best-kept secret about Tallahassee is the tremendous number of book clubs,” says Sally Bradshaw of Midtown Reader.

BOOKS

HOOKED ON BOOKS Capital City offers book clubs of all interests and for all ages

by AUDREY POST

CLUB HUB 72

T

echnology has changed the way some of us read, but it hasn’t diminished our love for the written word — despite dire warnings to the contrary.

Just like our definition of “newspapers” has evolved from words on newsprint to include characters on a screen, it’s the words, not the conveyance, that matter.

Ask your reading friends if they’re book club members, and you’ll likely get a mixed response: Some may be enthusiastic book club members, perhaps of more than one club; others might eschew book clubs, disliking what they perceive as the “rules and regimentation” of reading the same book and discussing plot line and character development.

But Tallahassee offers a book club for every reader. Whether you’re looking for an online club in which members post their impressions of a particular book or prefer a group that enjoys gathering and discussing a book terra firma, the shared experience is a unifying force.

“As soon as you read something you really enjoyed, you want to tell somebody about it,” said Debra Sears, library director for the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library

system. “You discuss, maybe you disagree, but that’s not a bad thing.”

Each of the six branch libraries, as well as the main library in downtown Tallahassee, hosts at least one book club. Most meet monthly. Some are genre-based; others are generational.

The Dr. B.L. Perry branch library on South Adams Street hosts the Urban Fiction Book Club. The Northeast Branch Library on Thomasville Road is host to the Mystery Book Club as well as the Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Club. The Lake Jackson Branch Library on North Monroe Street hosts the History Book Club, while both the Woodville Branch Library and the Jane G. Sauls Fort Braden Branch Library host fiction book clubs.

The Woodville library hosts the JAJO book club “for those of us who take a little more time to finish a book.” Meeting quarterly instead of monthly — January, April, July and October, or JAJO — this club is perfect for people who like to read a bit more leisurely.

“The Book is Better” club focuses on books that have been made into movies. Although it is based at the main library on Park Avenue, it often meets off-site at a café or coffee shop.

Midtown Reader hosts The Book of the Month Club, with staff taking turns leading the monthly discussions. In addition, there’s a shelf called “Book Club Love” that features the current month’s books for more than a dozen clubs. Clubs that register earn a 10 percent discount for members purchasing that month’s book. Clubs looking for a place to meet can gather there in the evenings for a nominal fee.

“A lot of people who are new to Tallahassee come in,” Bradshaw said, “because a book club is a great way to meet new friends.”

September–October 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

See legends you love.

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The Eastside Branch Library on Pedrick Road is home to The Bucket List Book Club. As the name implies, members suggest titles they have always meant to read but never got around to.

“This club is different from any of the other book clubs,” Sears said. “Sometimes they read the same book, and sometimes they read different books by the same author.”

To see what each library club is reading and when it meets, go to the library’s web site at leoncountyfl.gov/ Library and click on “Calendars and Events,” then on “Book Clubs for All Ages.”

Fran Conaway has been a member of several book clubs and is the de facto leader of a non-traditional book club called The Whatevers, which formed about 15 years ago.

Conaway said the club is based on a group Beth Logan participated in when she spent some time in Singapore following her retirement from Florida State University’s library science faculty. Logan has since passed away, but The Whatevers remain part of her legacy.

“We read whatever we want,” Conaway said. “We bring a snack and a beverage, visit for a while, then go around the room and talk about what we’ve read. We end up reading books we might not have otherwise.

We’re really more of a reading club than a book club.”

Bookstores are another place to consider. Booksellers support book clubs, for both philosophical and financial reasons. It simply makes good sense to support the organizations that support your business.

“The best-kept secret about Tallahassee is the tremendous number of book clubs,” said Sally Bradshaw, proprietor of Midtown Reader, an independent bookstore. “Bookstores are a safe haven for readers and people who love learning. Regardless of political differences, this is a really literate community.” TM

PHOTO BY SAIGE ROBERTS

↑ A meeting of Urban Fiction Book Club at the B.L. Perry branch library includes, from left, Karen Cribb, library services specialist Brenda Johnson, Letisha Williams, Robbie Burnett with son Paulo Mendonca, and Linda Underwood.

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PROMOTION

CORY WILLIAMS The Arts Live Here

By Erica Thaler, Council on Culture & Arts (COCA)

WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? Music. And not just any music. I need some Lonnie Liston Smith, Bobby Humphries and even Gucci. These artists help me escape.

WHAT FICTIONAL CHARACTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND BRING TO LIFE? Klaatu and Gort from “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

Because we are definitely mistreating the planet, and someone needs to come whoop our … .

WHAT MUSIC IS PLAYING IN YOUR CAR? I have a 1991 BMW E30 and the motor is so loud that I don’t get the pleasure of listening to music in my car. Especially since I love the sound of my car, I don’t mind just enjoying the drive.

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU? David Hume, “Treatise of Human Nature.” My brain is fried just from thinking about this book, but it was a great read. It helped me understand how my ideas come to exist; empirical thinking can spark creative intuition!

IT’S TIME FOR DINNER; WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT? I’m extremely frugal with my finances because everything has to be rationalized. Most of the time I’m cooking for myself. Vegan

“That Alcohol Burns,” acrylic on canvas, 4’x4’

Jamaican patties with cabbage, rice and beans is one of the kitchen usuals. Top it off with a banana, coconut smoothie and I’m good.

IF YOU WERE TRAPPED IN A TV SHOW OR MOVIE FOR A MONTH, WHICH WOULD IT BE? I know Bill’s reputation is tarnished but I would choose “The Cosby Show.” I grew up in a singleparent home and the thought of being a part of the Huxtable family gave me hope for a better foundation.

WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? I would like to able to use 100% of my brain capacity. Maybe then I’ll be able to have any super-human power!

WHAT HAVE YOUR LEARNED FROM FAILURE? Becoming a professional artist has taught me that failure can be an option, and it’s OK. Just because one gallery doesn’t accept your work, five others will. Without failure, there’s no success.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR? For some reason, people find me welcoming. I mean, strangers walk up to me and start talking. Seriously. It’s peculiar at first, however, I understand that my affability is a part of who I am, and people sense that courteousness. I guess a life fulfilled is to be remembered for my aid to others.

Cory Williams

Want to learn more about Cory?

Visit tallahasseearts.org/artist/Cory-Williams to learn more about Cory and over 950 artists of all creative disciplines in our Artist Directory.

This content is provided by the Council on Culture & Arts, the capital area’s umbrella agency for arts and culture.

Visit TallahasseeArts.org for a complete list of arts and cultural events, public art, arts education and more on the Tallahassee Arts Guide.

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PHOTOS BY SOLOMON KENNEDY

Although Cory Williams has been painting and creating his entire life, he has been working as a professional freelance artist and muralist for about seven years. Native to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cory’s fascination for the arts led him to Tallahassee in 2005 where he studied music and then earned a Fine Arts degree with a minor in Agricultural Science. His passion for arts and his appreciation for nature and gardening inspired him to develop a youth center of Arts and Agriculture to influence kids in the community to be more creative.

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➾FAMILY FSU FOOTBALL’S FIRST

Willie and Taneshia Taggart emphasize togetherness, simplicity for their family of five story by PETE REINWALD // photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

The Taggart family: Willie Jr., left, Taneshia and Jackson join Coach Willie and Morgan on the field at Doak Campbell Stadium.

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I

Willie Taggart says he emphasizes to his kids: “Take care of your family and take care of your mom.”

n the south end zone of one of college football’s most storied stadiums, 4-year-old Morgan Taggart emerged as the featured player in a family photo session.

She was putting on a performance.

And when it came to hamming it up, she was going for the Heisman — hugging her parents’ necks, kissing her brothers’ cheeks and waving for the camera, with a smile as wide as the 50yard line.

Suddenly, as the clock hit 8 p.m., she ran out of steam.

“I’m hungry,” she announced.

“What do you want to eat?” Willie Taggart asked.

“Popcorn.”

“OK. Let’s take some more pictures, then I’ll get you some popcorn.”

Spoken like a dad.

Florida State University’s head football coach gathered his family for photos at Doak Campbell Stadium and for a conversation with Tallahassee Magazine at their new home in Golden Eagle.

He and his wife, Taneshia, discussed their emphasis on family and their children — Morgan, 12-year-old Jackson

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and 17-year-old Willie Jr., all of whom stand out for their height. They also discussed high-profile life and stress, “cute dimples,” a typical day at home and their impressions of Tallahassee.

“Nice city,” Taggart said. “People are nice and very welcoming. Everywhere I go, it’s ‘Welcome to Tallahassee.’ I’ve been here over a year, and they still give a ‘Welcome to Tallahassee.’ ” Taggart welcomes you into his home with, “Hi, I’m Willie.” Ask whether he prefers “Coach Taggart,” he replies: “You can call me whatever you want. Just don’t call me collect.”

He would provide more folksy one liners, including when he suggested that a sister, a Florida Gators fan, wouldn’t get any Christmas gifts if she didn’t give his Florida State Seminoles their due.

“But she’s coming around,” he said with a smile.

Taggart sat beside his wife in the living room of their comfortable new home. Outside, landscapers were still laying sod. Inside, FSU football’s first family was just moving in.

The living area trumpeted spaciousness. Maybe most of the stuff from the movers hadn’t arrived yet, you figured.

Or maybe the new residents didn’t feel they needed that much stuff.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Maybe, in each other, they had all they needed.

“We’re a simple family,” Taggart said.

“Very simple,” his wife said.

Of course, family life can get complicated when you coach one of the most successful football programs in the country. Expectations never fall below enormous, especially when you’re among about a dozen African-American football coaches in the NCAA’s 130-team Football Bowl Subdivision.

A top job in college football means 14hour to 18-hour workdays for the dad. It means pressure and stress on the father, the mother and the children, especially when the season didn’t go the way the fans wanted.

The stress becomes heightened in the age of social media, on which frustrated fans spew a constant stream of viciousness, relentlessness and bigotry.

Taggart addressed the stress during the June Tallahassee Magazine interview that focused on family. TV cameras show Taggart as perpetually expressionless, regardless of a win, tumble, first down or fumble.

A conversation with him shows him as human.

“I try to not let anybody ever see me sweat,” he said. “By myself, I can let out the frustration or whatever.

If I’m stressed out, I’m stressed out from thinking of how I can make these situations better. If I can, I work my tail off and make it better. If I can’t, then I’m not going to stress about it and move on and keep going.”

Only his wife knows when he’s upset, he said. She agreed.

“Normally, he’s a very happy, talkative person,” Taneshia Taggart said. “So when I see him internalizing and quiet, I know something is eating at him. And I ask him what’s wrong. And either he’ll tell me something’s wrong, or he’ll say, ‘I’m good.’ And I let it go.”

The coach said he has had similar talks with sons Jackson and Willie Jr. Both play sports, including football, yearround.

Taggart described Jackson, the middle child, as quiet and disinclined to “let a lot of things bother him.”

“But I talk to him about those things and why people do certain things and say certain things and why it shouldn’t

Taneshia and Willie Taggart shared a mutual attraction when they met at Western Kentucky University. Willie says he recalls thinking, “Wow, she’s cute.”

bother him,” Taggart said. “You try to explain to him how it works. And be real about it all.”

Jackson’s older brother, Willie Jr., plays quarterback for Florida State University School, or Florida High. He has a chance to play big-time college football, perhaps for his dad at FSU. Taggart said he apologized to Willie Jr. for giving him his name, which has brought his son unintended attention.

When football fans say negative things to Willie Jr., Taggart said he tells him: “You don’t know those people, so the heck with what they say. When things don’t go well, everything’s going to be said, and when things go right, still, negative things are going to be said.

It’s kind of what we’re dealing with.”

Willie Jr. had touched his parents with an inspiring comment in late 2017 when his father found himself in angst over whether to leave the University of Oregon after one season. FSU had

offered him the chance to become FSU’s first African American football coach.

Taggart had grown up a Florida State fan and saw it as a dream job. One problem: His oldest son loved Oregon and wanted to stay.

The coach said he and his wife were in their room one day when Willie Jr. came in and said to his father: “I know you’re struggling with your decision.

I know Florida State’s a dream school.

You’ve been having me doing the ‘tomahawk chop’ since I was 3. You’ve always told me to take my dreams and not let anyone get in the way of them, so I don’t think it’s right for me or anybody else to get in the way of your dreams.”

The parents hadn’t seen that coming.

“Both of us, we were like, ‘Wow,’ ” Taggart said. “We just hugged and cried, and we were like, ‘Man, the dude’s growing up.’ ” “They surprise you,” Taneshia Taggart said softly.

WOMEN’S CLINICS Taneshia Taggart said she has enjoyed

her involvement in annual women’s football clinics associated with her husband’s teams.

“It’s a place where women come and learn football,” she said.

FSU’s event in June touted basic rules and strategy, coaching instruction, onfield drills, and game plans for offense, defense and special teams. About 300 women attended, FSU said.

“After all these years, I’m still trying to figure it all out,” the coach’s wife said of football. “I want to be able to see football the way he sees football, to be able to pick out a play.”

She said the clinics have helped.

“I know how they line up,” she said.

“I can tell who goes where.”

She added with a smile: “It’s a start.”

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Take care of the family and take care of your mom.”

Their mom is the former Taneshia Crosson. Taggart first saw her in the student union at Western Kentucky University, where he studied social sciences and played quarterback and she majored in interdisciplinary studies with a journalism emphasis.

As Taneshia tells it, she was sitting with a friend when Willie walked in with friends. She said she told her friend that Willie had cute dimples.

Cuteness reigned, because Willie recalls thinking, “Wow, she’s cute.”

He noticed her looking at him as she talked to her friend. The quarterback knew he had a chance, and he wasn’t going to pass on it.

“When I left, he decided to ask her what I said,” Taneshia said. “She told him.”

Touchdown.

They would start a football family at Western Kentucky, where Willie worked as an assistant coach under the man who would become his mentor, Jack Harbaugh, father of University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Taggarts would move to Stanford and back to Western Kentucky for Willie’s first head coaching job. Then they’d move to South Florida and to Oregon before landing at FSU. In early June, they still hadn’t gotten to know any neighbors because they’d just moved into their new home. But they received a welcoming sign.

On the day the moving trucks arrived, Taneshia said, the house across the street freshly hung an FSU flag over its garage — an obvious salute to the new residents.

“The great thing about it,” Willie said, “there’s lots of ’Noles around here.”

Lots of holes, too — 18 of them. The Taggarts’ new backyard overlooks the fifth hole at Golden Eagle Country Club, where the father takes the kids out for golf.

Even Morgan, with her tiny clubs, goes along. “She’s my Says Willie Jr.: little caddy,” Taggart said.

“My dad just tells But preschoolers and me to just be me and let people like preteens have their limits. me for me.”

When Dad and kids get to the fifth hole, Taggart said, Jackson might grab his clubs and aim for home, a matter of steps away.

In the interview, Willie Taggart emphasized his devotion to family and the ways he works that into his coaching.

He said that devotion came from his father, John, who died in 2017.

Up until his illness, John Taggart had worked for about 30 years at Darlene’s Shells, a company in Palmetto, just north of Bradenton, that processes seashells and sells them as crafts and souvenirs. Willie Taggart had worked there during summers as a teenager while he was a star quarterback at Manatee High School.

Taggart said he models his dad “from the standpoint of just take care of your family.”

“That’s the one thing that I really miss about my dad,” he said. “Every time we got off the phone, he always ended it with, ‘Make sure you take care of your family.’ We didn’t have much, and he didn’t have a great job, but he worked his tail off and made sure we had lights and that water and food were on the table.

I try to teach my boys the same thing.

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“They get a little tired after a while, mentally,” he said.

The coach understands. Golf “ticks me off,” he said. But he didn’t buy a house on a challenging golf course for nothing.

Willie also likes to cook on the grill. Taneshia, the family homemaker, enjoys a drive to the park. Upon completion of a pool, they planned to spend as much time in it as they could with their kids.

“But that’s about it,” Willie said. “We’re a simple family. We don’t do a lot.”

On Friday nights during football season, Taneshia takes Morgan and Jackson to watch Willie Jr. play for Florida High.

When FSU isn’t on the road, her husband joins them, sort of. The coach stakes out a spot near the field where he stands by himself. Yes, he’s giving his

TAGGART TOPICS EMPHASIS ON FAMILY

“That’s how I was raised. My mom (Gloria James) had five kids, and we were always together, and if we weren’t together, we were with our cousins, uncles and aunts. That was almost every weekend. That was just how I was raised, around family, and something that I always needed to continue. Going to Western Kentucky, Jack Harbaugh did the same thing with his programs.

When you start coaching, you just know that a lot of these kids need that. They’re leaving home and going to another family. Most of the kids that we have … they’re seeking — they’re looking for it. They want to come and be a part of it, and you see them glow and grow at the same time.”

HIS MOTHER AND SIBLINGS

“They come in for every home game. My mom comes up (from Palmetto). She doesn’t like the long drive. That’s the beauty, at least, of me coaching. It has allowed my family to experience things they’d never experienced before, go places they’d always dreamed of going. Now me in my career, where I go, they’ve been able to see those things. In Oregon, it was the first time my mom and my sister had been west of the Mississippi River. I thought it was really cool for my mom to say, ‘I’ve done this. I’ve been here.’ ”

FAMILY WITH COACHES, PLAYERS

son guidance through eye contact and gestures. You bet he is.

“Sometimes he won’t look,” Taggart said of Willie Jr. “But he also looks sometimes for some reassurance.”

Taggart said he tries not to force anything on his kids. They should go after a goal because they want it, not because he wants it for them, he said.

Willie Jr. wants to play college football. Through spring, he reportedly received scholarship offers from Florida State, Arkansas and Appalachian State, and he included Oregon among his destinations of interest.

“He knows that I’m always here,” Taggart said of his son. “I think he opens up more to his mom than me. I get frustrated because I feel

like he isn’t listening. But he is. He’s listening.”

“My dad just tells me to just be me and let people like me for me, and I don’t have to change for anyone,” Willie Jr. said. “If they like me for me as a person, then that’s great. If they want to talk to me as the coach’s kid and that’s all they see me as, just push them to the side and be a normal kid.”

He made his comments near Doak Campbell Stadium’s south end zone, where minutes before, his little sister — sporting a garnet dress with an FSU logo — had put on her impressive performance for the camera. Her father had happily played along.

“Kiss me on my cheek,” Dad told her. “Now, c’mon, give daddy a hug.” TM

“Thursday’s date night/family night for the coaches. Go home and be with their family and spend time with them. Usually I let them off around 3 o’clock on Thursdays. Then Friday morning, they come in a little later, giving them an opportunity to take their kids to school. I tell our coaches to make sure our wives and kids are around so the players can see us be husbands and fathers, and our coaches invite the players over to their houses and have dinner with their position groups. Taneshia and I, each week during the season we’ll bring a different position group to come over and have dinner with us as a family.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

“Social media is so powerful, and it’s so different.

It’ll get to you mentally, and we happen to do a great job on educating our kids on how to deal with it. I remember when it first started. I had first become a head coach. It frustrated me and ticked me off. I had to think twice before I pressed send because I was letting it get to me. Don’t go looking for things you don’t want to see. You know it’s there. Following social media, Snapchat, Instagram, that’s what they do now. It’s tougher.

But like I tell my son, if you’re going to go on there, you should expect these things, and you shouldn’t be frustrated by it. It comes with it.”

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Capital City offers options for those who embrace entertainment nostalgia

GO INTO THE ATTIC AND GET YOUR TURNTABLE. VINYL IS BACK. DUST OFF THAT DVD PLAYER. VIDEO IS VIABLE. REOPEN YOUR IMAGINATION. COMICS REMAIN A CONSTANT. People are embracing entertainment nostalgia, perhaps especially when it comes to a national resurgence in vinyl records. “People want a sense of ownership again, owning something tangible versus having a streaming service,” said Sharod Bines, owner of Retrofit Records on West Gaines Street. That appears also the case for video and DVDs, at least in Tallahassee. Cap City Video Lounge, in Railroad Square, stands as a digital-age rarity as a micro-cinema and video rental store. Even pinball machines and video-game arcades are enjoying a resurgence. Big-box rental stores offer vintage-style arcade machines that feature Space Invaders and Pac-Man, among other 1970s and 1980s games.

Tallahassee bars such as Hangar 38 and Fire Betty’s have introduced such entertainment sources for customers to enjoy while having a drink. They thereby join a national trend of “barcades,” as some call them. As for comic books, perhaps they’ve never gone away. But they might have gotten a boost from recent blockbuster superhero movies, which one Tallahassee comics lover says has produced “a new awareness” and a new audience for comic books. Here’s a look at entertainment nostalgia in Tallahassee.

STORY BY KAITLYN HENDERSON AND ZACHARY BETHEL // PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

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↘ Sharod Bines, owner of Retrofit Records on West Gaines Street, says he sees “another renaissance age of creativity in music and culture.”

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↑ Sharod Bines talks with a customer at Retrofit Records. Vinyl remains a way for music lovers to hold onto, and own, physical music libraries. “If Spotify servers go down,” he says, “then you don’t have any music.”

Walk into Retrofit Records, and you’ll find what you’d expect to find. You’ll find vinyl albums from the Beatles, Deep Purple and The Jackson 5, just to name a few.

Checkerboard tiles cover the floor, in step with the retro merchandise. Posters and cover art featuring various artists fill the walls.

To find the magic, go into the back of the store. Here you’ll find listening booths to sample some of your newly found treasures.

But it’s not all vintage. You’ll also find vinyl versions of albums from up-and-coming artists such as Billie

Eilish and Mac Demarco — a consideration that the owner said inspired the business.

As a result, the store touts a diverse clientele of all ages and music tastes.

“With vinyl, you can experience music in a different way,” said Carolyn Sizemore, a longtime customer and new employee. “There’s a physical, ritualistic aspect of listening to vinyl. Picking it out, cleaning it, putting it on, and the whole practice of that is very physical compared to other mediums, which is why I like it.”

She added: “It forces you to listen to it more in the way that the artist intended it. Instead of shuffling around, you have to listen to the whole A side, or the whole B side.”

Consider how far vinyl has come — or come back.

Vinyl sales totaled $15.7 million in revenue in 2006, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s U.S. sales database. Music streaming totaled $206.2 million in the same year.

In 2018, Vinyl record sales amassed $419 million in total revenue, the highest total for newly printed vinyl sales since 1988. This number does not account for the millions of used albums sold through Amazon, eBay and independent record stores throughout the year.

Meanwhile, streaming sales recorded $4.7 billion in revenue in 2018.

CDs and digital downloads nearly destroyed vinyl records in the 2000s, but as those formats phase out and consumers begin to favor streaming, vinyl remains a way for music lovers to still hold onto, and own, physical music libraries.

“You may be paying for it, but you don’t own any of that stuff,” Bines said of streaming services. “If Spotify servers go down, then you don’t have any music. I know my records aren’t going to just disappear.”

Aside from vinyl, Retrofit also sells CDs and those true recording-industry dinosaurs, cassette tapes — especially from indie labels such as Sub Pop and Matador. “It’s a cheaper alternative than buying a brand new record,” Bines said.

With vinyl, you can experience music in a different way. There’s a physical, ritualistic aspect of listening to vinyl. Picking it out, cleaning it, putting it on, and the whole practice of that is very physical compared to other mediums, which is why I like it.”

— Carolyn Sizemore, a longtime customer and new employee at Retrofit Records 86

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PHOTOS BY DAVE BARFIELD

His store emphasizes that it buys, sells and trades vinyl and welcomes all music genres.

Bines grew up listening to music on his parents’ turntable and always had a special attachment to music. In 2011, he took it a step further with his first business partners, Bradley Ellison and Adam Kent, and established Retrofit Records.

Bines initially ran a booking and promotions company for touring bands, connecting them with venues around town. Ellison worked as music director at Florida State’s V89 radio station, where he would feature and interview Bines’ upcoming artists.

“The original idea was to open a venue with a record store within it, like a pop-up shop,” Bines said. “Well, we’re in Tallahassee; there aren’t going to be awesome bands coming through every night, so let’s figure out another stream of revenue.”

Vinyl Fever was one of the last record shops in town before it closed in 2010, leaving thrift stores and secondhand shops as the only places to buy vinyl. The trio altered their

↑ Sharod Bines says he grew up listening to music on his parents’ turntable and always had a special attachment to music. His store offers classic albums as well as those from new artists. Regarding interest in vinyl, he says, “there really has been a resurgence.”

original plan of a record store by day and music venue by night and decided to emphasize vinyl sales.

“There were a couple places … where you’d walk in and all they have is used records and their kind of beat,” TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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87

Bines said. “But none of those places sold new records at all, so I was like, ‘There’s got to be room for a small shop to be able to provide brand new music that has come out on vinyl.’ ” Today, big department stores such as Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and Urban Outfitters offer newly released music on vinyl. This wasn’t the case back when Bines began Retrofit.

“There really has been a resurgence,” Bines said.

“Like, when you start seeing department stores and big box stores start to sell records when they haven’t sold records since the ’70s or ’80s.”

In the age of on-demand, movie streaming and Redbox video rentals, Tallahassee appears to be home to one of the Southeast’s last video rental stores: Cap City Video Lounge.

Created by Kevin Cole, Cap City began as an attempt to further a passion and to fill a void.

“It’s something I really believed in,” Cole said.

“Coming into a store and looking at movies and discussing them, it was terrible watching it die out.”

Cole worked at Video 21, a Tallahassee video rental store up until its final year about five years ago. Cole said the closing of Video 21, and of Miracle 5, a former art house theater on Thomasville Road, inspired him to create Cap City.

“That gave me the idea of opening a one-screen theater, making it a movie rental store as well and creating a communal space for movie fans to get back together and bask in what we love,” Cole said.

Cap City Video Lounge opened toward the end of 2016 and has since been a staple for ↑ Cap City Video Lounge film buffs and movie enthusiasts features a one-screen theater looking for people with shared as well as movie rentals. interests.

You’ll find walls filled with an eclectic assortment of movies old and new, with an otherwise humble and quirky interior.

Cole’s inventory largely stems from his own collection from which friends would borrow.

“I decided a lot of times movies would be sitting there and collecting dust. What’s the point of that?” Cole

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PHOTOS BY JOHNSTON ROBERTS

said. “So really we transplanted our living room into a business and moved all of our movies into the store.”

Cole receives a variety of donations, from DVDs to Blu-rays to VHS tapes. He said it largely comes from people going digital and trying to clear out space.

Cole said his clientele mainly consists of students, though he gets customers of all ages.

“It’s really cool seeing people looking through older films and talking about what they’ve heard or where they saw it for the first time,” he said.

Previously located across from Tallahassee Community College on West Tennessee Street, Cap City Video Lounge recently moved into Railroad Square. ← Kevin Cole And with that came a change in says he thinks his the business model.

Cap City Video Cole said Cap City has begun Lounge offers “a communal space showing first-run independent for movie fans.” movies, “stuff that the AMC or He adds: “It’s a Regal just won’t show.” totally different experience than As part of its new model, sitting home by Cap City first showed IFC yourself with a Midnight’s “The Wind.” The remote control.” film’s writer, Teresa Sutherland, and producer, Christopher Alender, hail from Florida State.

Cole also shows cult classics and other retro films such as “Videodrome,” “Ms. 45” and “Something Wild,” the latter of which was filmed in and around Tallahassee.

“It’s a totally different experience than sitting home by yourself with a remote control,” Cole said. “When you come to Cap City, you are actually hanging out with a bunch of like-minded people.”

Young or old, the comic industry can be anything you want it to be.

“It crosses over into anything you can imagine. You name it,” said Mark Wilkens, who opened Fallout Comics six years ago.

Fallout Comics offers comic books past and present, poster books and even board games.

A frequent customer, John Roberson, said his love for comics started when he was growing up and would visit comic book stores.

After moving to Tallahassee for school, he discovered Fallout Comics and a new interest in tabletop games.

“I come in for comics but end up walking out with the new Warhammer models,” he said.

Less than three miles away, you’ll find Cosmic Cat Comics. When you walk into the store, you see only a TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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You have your hardcore comic lovers who are the ones who have been doing this for a long time, but then with this new awareness, you get a newer audience.”

— Mark Wilkens of Fallout Comics

↑ Mark Wilkens, owner of Fallout Comics, says the comic book industry crosses over into poster books and even board games, including Warhammer. “It crosses over into anything you can imagine,” he says.

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PHOTOS BY JOHNSTON ROBERTS

small portion of what owner Ned Stacey has up for grabs.

Stacey keeps most of his stash in a warehouse behind the store.

From here, he ships comics to the online market and thereby combines the digital age with a more traditional one.

Some say that the digital age has benefited the comic book industry.

At Fallout Comics, Wilkens says he thinks comic books have flourished from movies such a Marvel’s “Avengers.”

“It truly expands the awareness of comics,” he said. “You have your hardcore comic lovers who are the ones who have been doing this for a long time, but then with this new awareness, you get a newer audience.”

Fallout Comics promotes events such as National Free Comic Day and Comic Fest, where you might see people in costumes of their favorite characters. To ramp up interest for kids and their parents, Wilkens has even displayed a life-size R2D2.

“It’s really a way for all to participate and it allows us to give back to the community,” he said.

For vinyl records, independent stores aim to amplify the resurgence through the annual National Record Store Day. Retrofit Records typically promotes the day — in April each year — with DJs, free food and live entertainment. And owner Bines said the line extends out the door.

“It sheds a light,” Bines said. “It’s a fun day to celebrate independent brick and mortar record stores around the country and around the world.”

This year, National Record Store Day generated 827,000 vinyl record sales in the U.S. for the week, according to Nielsen Music. That marked a record for the week.

“There’s part of it that is probably a trend,” Bines said.

But perhaps it’s more than that, he suggests. “I think we are also going through another renaissance age of creativity in music and culture.” TM

↑ Ned Stacey, owner of Cosmic Cat Comics, displays some merchandise but keeps most of it in a warehouse behind his store for shipping to the online market. He thereby serves traditional and digital audiences.

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← First Presbyterian Church opened in 1838.

Understandably, it has undergone various alterations over two centuries, including energyefficient lighting and heating, plus solar panels on its Education Building, as part of a stated commitment to environmental responsibility.

NEARLY 2 CENTURIES STRONG FIRST PRESBYTERIAN TOUTS A MISSION OF SERVICE AND THE CAPITAL CITY’S OLDEST PUBLIC BUILDING Third in a series on Tallahassee’s historic churches Amid danger and turbulence in a remote land, Presbyterian Church leaders resolved to construct their own house of worship and place of refuge in Tallahassee.

They began building in 1835.

Understandably, it took a few years to complete.

“It was delayed by a few little inconveniences like the Seminole Indian Wars and yellow fever epidemics,” says Rev. Brant S. Copeland, who became pastor at First Presbyterian Church in 1985.

Times were different, all right. This was long before paved roads. But Tallahassee had horses, and if you had trouble walking, a carriage could bring you to the church that opened in 1838.

Today, at Park Avenue and Adams Street, First Presbyterian Church stands among tall, modern structures as Tallahassee’s oldest public building. A sign a block away tells visitors that the building contains original slave galleries and that it was used to shelter women and children during Indian wars.

The sanctuary has undergone various alternations over two centuries, including a 1985 renovation that restored a choir area and added windows in the style of 1838, the church says on its website. Work in 2010 included energyefficient lighting and heating, venting and air-conditioning systems, which underscore a stated commitment to environmental responsibility.

A

By SARAH BURGESS and KAITLYN HENDERSON  Photos by DAVE BARFIELD

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→ Rev. Brant S. Copeland, who has been pastor at First Presbyterian for almost 35 years, says the church has long worked “for the betterment of humanity.”

“We have tried to be an example to other Presbyterian congregations regarding divestment from fossil fuel companies,” Rev. Copeland says.

The church’s mission trumpets its downtown location — a close walk from fellow historic churches Trinity United Methodist, St. John’s Episcopal and First Baptist — where First Presbyterian calls itself a neighbor of the poor and homeless. The church says it serves neighbors through caring for one another.

“This church for a long time has been interested in making a witness to the community and being partners in the community for the betterment of humanity,” Rev. Copeland says.

During the winter, Copeland shared his thoughts on First Presbyterian’s history, congregation, social outreach and more. We edited his comments for length and clarity.

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ON THE CHURCH’S HISTORY “The church was organized in 1832 by the Presbytery in Georgia.

We are not the oldest congregation in town in terms of organization — that would be Trinity United Methodist — but it is the oldest building that survived from territorial days. We think it is the oldest public building in continuous use for its original purpose in the state. Certainly there are older churches, but they fall in St. Augustine. Really all the downtown churches, at least Trinity, First Presbyterian and St. John’s, were basically built out of the same book of plans. They all look very similar to each other.”

ON THE CONGREGATION “It’s a diverse congregation, not as racially diverse as I would like.

By and large the level of education is pretty high; we have a lot of

folks in education at the universities and the public schools and people in state government, as you would expect. We are very intergenerational in our approach; we try not to break people into silos of age groups. It’s a very sort of service-minded congregation. The preschool has been here since right after the bus boycott days; it was the first racially integrated preschool in the city. So it’s been around, and that’s been a part of our mission all these years since the ’60s. (The congregation is) interesting and lively and not adverse to conversation.” He adds with a laugh: “They’re not shy about engaging.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (RIGHT)

ON THE CHURCH’S IDEAS, TENANTS AND BELIEFS, INCLUDING HEAVEN …

“Presbyterians agree with other denominations on the essentials: the Trinity, the nature of God. A particular emphasis for Presbyterians is the sovereignty of God’s love — that, in the end, God’s love will win out. The other is a response that includes grace and gratitude. Because of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we respond in gratitude, and we do that with having received grace; we want to convey grace to other people. And another might be a sense of stewardship; the old language is that (a proper stewardship) ‘shuns ostentation’ and tries to work to the glory of God. And maybe one more, and that would be balancing — the old language was ‘total depravity’ — the nature of sinfulness versus the fact that the people are created in the image of God and can do good. The exact language: ‘the recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny which cause the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the word of God.’ ”

ON INTERNAL EVENTS THAT HAVE PROVEN A CHALLENGE …

“I think in more recent times, in the 1970s during the Vietnam era, the church really struggled with questions of social justice, and peace and justice. There was an exodus of folks over that issue, and a lot

of them went to other churches. The membership was reduced by about half in that period in the 1970s. Before that, all of Tallahassee was engaged with the civil rights movement. Several elders in the church were part of the struggle to integrate the city. So civil rights, peace and justice, and since that division, the church focused a lot of its emphasis on the preschool, an integrated diverse preschool that includes people of various economic backgrounds. So racial justice, and in more recent times, environmental issues. A little over 10 years ago, we committed ourselves to becoming a carbon-neutral congregation. That required retrofitting the Education Building and renovating the sanctuary. We installed solar panels as part of our goal to reduce our carbon footprint to zero. And we have tried to be an example to other Presbyterian congregations regarding divestment from fossil fuel companies.”

ON HAVING TO ADJUST TO CHANGES IN SOCIETY …

“I think every congregation, especially the old-line congregations, are having to deal with seismic shifts in the culture. Some of that is generational. People — millennials and younger — don’t do church in the same way that the baby boomers and the WWII generation did. That doesn’t mean they do it wrong; it means they do it differently. This church for a long time has been interested in making a witness to the community and being partners in the community for the betterment of humanity. In that sense, we try to be responsive to the needs of the community.”

ON MEETING WITH OTHER CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS IN TOWN TO DISCUSS THE BIGGER PICTURE …

“Jack Romberg, the Rabbi who’s retired at Temple Israel, he and I are the co-coordinators of Tallahassee Interfaith Clergy. When we were fully operating, we were meeting once a month. It was a pretty inclusive group … even folks from the Tallahassee Pagan group.”

ON THE TOP ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH …

“One of the issues is LGBT rights and protections. That is not a big issue for us, because we have dealt with it and try to be an inclusive congregation. The environmental justice question is absolutely paramount. If we don’t change our energy consumption and our use of carbon fuels, we are going to bankrupt the planet.

And I guess the third from a religious perspective is how to be the faithful church of Jesus Christ in the current culture, because the churches are kind of losing their de facto establishment in the culture. There was a time when church and state, although formally divided, were informally united, but those days are disappearing.

So how do you be a faithful witness to the God revealed in the Christian tradition in a time where we no longer enjoy that kind of de facto establishment?” TM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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2019 SPECIAL REPORT

YO U R H O S P I TA L FOR

the Future M .T. M U S T I A N C E N T E R

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 1

YO U R H O S P I TA L

the Future

FOR

CREATIVE, SALES & OPERATIONS Publisher Brian Rowland

Vice President/ Corporate Development McKenzie Burleigh

Director of Production and Technology Daniel Vitter

Client Service Representative Melinda Lanigan Managing Editor Jeff Price

Creative Director Jennifer Ekrut

Publication Designer Sarah Burger

Contributing Writers Steve Bornhoft, Rosanne Dunkelberger, Rochelle Koff

2 | M.T. Mustian Center

Welcome to the M.T. Mustian Center, Tallahassee’s new state-of-the-art surgical and adult ICU facility at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

This new cutting-edge complex was years in the making, and it will meet the needs of community healthcare today and for decades to come.

In the following pages, you’ll read about the long hours, hard work and dedication that helped make the M.T. Mustian Center a reality. See how the M.T. Mustian Center will serve as not only the most advanced surgical and adult ICU facility in the region but also a job creator as it draws top physicians and surgeons from around the nation and world.

So please, join us as we help reshape the landscape of Tallahassee healthcare together.

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

4 6 10 14 17

M.T. MUSTIAN LEGACY EMBRACING THE FUTURE PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST IT’S A PRETTY BIG DEAL OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

18 20 22 24

THEY ALL PLAYED A PART

TIMELINE

DRESS REHEARSAL

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Factoids provided by Brian Smith, Operations Manager at BRASFIELD & GORRIE, LLC

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 3

M .T. M U ST I A N Quietly, he stabilized TMH and nurtured its growth

I

n his 96 years, longtime Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) Administrator M.T. Mustian found little time for small talk.

“He liked to cut to the chase and get on with the matter,” said his son Mark, an attorney and former Tallahassee city commissioner. “But I found that people respected that about him.

Generally, people want you to be straight up with them. They prefer that, if you disagree with them, you just tell them.”

M.T. Mustian, who passed away in May of 2017, was the kind of person to whom people applied the words “pragmatic and visionary” or “conservative and progressive” in the same breath.

“He was good at thinking strategically, and I have discovered that’s a rare talent,” Mark said.

And he was a good listener.

“He would spend hours walking around the floors of the hospital and in the doctors’ lounge listening to what their problems were,” Mark said.

“People appreciated that.”

Those appreciative people included Alexander D. Brickler, MD, who was delivering babies at the hospital at Florida A&M University when Mr. Mustian arrived in Tallahassee in 1964.

Not long thereafter, the State of Florida ceased funding the A&M hospital, and Tallahassee was faced with the need to integrate TMH.

4 | M.T. Mustian Center

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

“M.T. and I and the hospital’s medical director at the time got together in clandestine meetings and decided how we were going to proceed,” Brickler said.

The trio, led by Mr. Mustian, determined that they would first integrate the old A&M facility by establishing an OB-GYN clinic there for indigent patients. The move proved successful and helped pave the way for a broader integration of healthcare services in Tallahassee.

“The clinic saw an influx of white patients, and that softened the resistance of the militant segregationists so that we could pull things together and proceed to integrate TMH,” Brickler said.

It was an early example of the value of Mr. Mustian’s capacity for strategy.

There would be many others, including the purchase by TMH near the end of Mr. Mustian’s tenure as administrator of 84 acres that some called “Mustian’s Folly.”

“Critics wanted to know what we were spending all this money for, but my father could see the day when the hospital campus would have to be expanded,” Mark said. “It was a smart move.”

In the first place, M.T. Mustian arrived in Tallahassee knowing that TMH was struggling financially.

His road to Tallahassee had been decidedly indirect.

M.T. Mustian was born in Texarkana, Texas. His father was an itinerant farmer who moved about the Lone Star State, pausing wherever the cotton was doing the best.

Mr. Mustian graduated high school in Atlanta, Texas, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a medic in Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army in World War II. He was wounded in the battle for Koblenz, Germany, and was awarded a Purple Heart.

After the war, he attended Baylor University on the GI Bill, received his bachelor’s degree in 1949 and served as an assistant administrator at hospitals in Alexandria, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi.

He met his wife, Jackie, in Alexandria, where she had grown up. Both were employees of the Baptist hospital there.

“He was the business manager — and he was handsome,” Jackie recalled. “And a budding relationship got started.” She was the Secretary to the Chaplain and the Director of Nursing.

For a time, it seemed that M.T. Mustian’s life would be as nomadic as his father’s had been.

He checked in at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida, where he served as CEO for four

M U S T I A N L E G AC Y

years, before moving to Gainesville and becoming Alachua General Hospital’s Chief Administrator.

He next boomeranged to Texas, but he and Jackie disliked Houston and soon began shopping for a less urban environment.

Mark said his father accepted the administrator’s job at TMH in 1964 after concluding, “things were so screwed up there that he couldn’t possibly make them any worse.” He would remain in the job for 25 years. His wanderings were over.

“M.T. came along and did a marvelous job with the hospital,” Brickler said. “He made things right.

You would never expect M.T. to be out front with a banner demonstrating for a cause, but he would work behind the scenes to get things done.”

Indeed, Brickler said, M.T. Mustian changed the dynamic of hospital operations. Prior to his arrival at TMH, the administrator was subservient to the medical staff and did not much generate doctors’ respect.

“M.T. was straight-laced and no nonsense but very fair in his thinking,” said Brickler, who retired in February after he and his son, also an OB/GYN, combined to deliver a baby via Caesarean section on his 90th birthday. “If M.T. said he was going to do something, he’d do it. His word was his bond. He earned the complete support of the medical staff, which was hard to do at that time.”

As a result, Mr. Mustian ensured that the hospital’s administration would have as much to say about the direction and operation of the hospital as the doctors did. That was new, Brickler said.

“M.T. always said it was our job to run the hospital, and it was the job of physicians to deal with issues including quality of care and physician pay,” said Bill Giudice, TMH’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. “He was a master at avoiding entanglements with the medical staff. He would go to them with an issue, tell them it was their responsibility and let them solve it.”

Giudice credited Mr. Mustian with always maintaining a cordial relationship with staff, no matter the tension that sometimes inevitably developed between doctors and the administration.

“There were people who didn’t like him very much, but there were few people who didn’t respect him,” Mark said.

Giudice and Brickler agree that Mr. Mustian always was careful about not revealing too much of himself, but there were times when people glimpsed his sense of humor.

Giudice’s desk is given to neat piles. Nonetheless, Mr. Mustian walked into his office one day about two years after Giudice had started at TMH, muttered, “Cluttered desk, cluttered mind,” and walked off without saying another word.

The episode bothered Giudice and, two days later, he visited his fastidious boss’ office, attracted his attention by clearing his throat and wondered aloud, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what is an empty desk a sign of?”

Giudice lingered for a moment but heard nothing in response.

Years later, Giudice asked Mr. Mustian’s executive secretary if he had ever said anything about the “empty desk” remark.

“She told me that was probably the day that M.T. was satisfied that he had the right person as CFO because I wasn’t going to be a ‘yes’ man,” Giudice recalled. “And she said that right after I left, he closed his door and busted out laughing, but he wasn’t going to do that while I was standing there.”

Mark said his dad liked “silly humor” and recalled Mr. Mustian’s fondness for shows including “Hee Haw” and “The Dukes of Hazard.” Jackie remembers times when the family would gather around the television to watch “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

“I think we sort of identified with them,” Jackie said.

Mr. Mustian was a highly regarded executive, yes, but he was also a gardener, one with zero tolerance for weeds.

“He wasn’t much for exercise for exercise’s sake,” his wife, Jackie, said. “He believed in work, and he loved to work in the yard and in the garden.

He would pick the beans and have me wash them so we could give them to the neighbors. And we had the most wonderful Vidalia onions. M.T. was a farmer more than a gardener. His garden was never just for us.”

TMH was a small hospital of about 200 beds when the Mustians came to town, and Mr. Mustian would do much to nurture its growth.

“We got to see a lot of things happen,” Jackie said. “But M.T. was always patient centered. He wanted everything to be right for the patient.”

Jackie said she was shocked to learn that TMH’s new surgery center would be named in honor of her husband.

“Still, I can hardly believe it,” she said. “But M.T. loved TMH. “Make no mistake. He loved it.”

“M.T. was straight-laced and no nonsense but very fair in his thinking.

If M.T. said he was going to do something, he’d do it. His word was his bond. He earned the complete support of the medical staff, which was hard to do at that time.”

— ALEXANDER D. BRICKLER, MD

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the Future 28

BY ROCHELLE KOFF

S

mart beds that can speak to patients in 23 languages. An app to help visitors find their car in the parking lot. Operating rooms equipped for the latest surgical techniques. These are just a few of the new features that will help set Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) apart with the newly opened $275 million M.T. Mustian Center. The term “state of the art” is frequently, and aptly, used to describe the advances in this mammoth healthcare addition.

“The place is so full of new technology,” said Henry Hanson, TMH’s Project Engineer for the M.T. Mustian Center.

To put it simply: “We’ve got some really cool things,” noted Linda Fox, the hospital’s Service Line Administrator for Surgical Services.

The gleaming center features 28 operating rooms; four interventional suites for neurosurgical and vascular procedures; 72 adult medical/ surgical intensive care beds (compared to 40); and related support services. The ICU beds in the M.T. Mustian Center replace all the adult ICU beds in the original building.

“All 28 of the operating rooms are designed to do any case, any time,” said Fox. “The only exception to that is we have four interventional suites. If patients need heart surgery and they have to go on what we call a bypass pump, it requires different technology, which these suites are equipped with.

It’s the only thing that makes a difference in the suites compared to our OR’s.”

The six-story, 340,000-square-foot M.T. Mustian facility nearly doubles the size of Tallahassee

6 | M.T. Mustian Center

Memorial, but the implications of this new tower go way beyond an increase in space, according to the many professionals who played a vital role in planning and launching the center.

“When you really drill down to the basics of what we’re trying to do for the people in our region, it’s to give them state-of-the-art surgical technology in the safest and most efficient environment possible — but to also leave our door open to be able to grow and improve as technology improves,” said Chris DeRosier, MD, a reconstructive plastic surgeon who serves as Chairman of Surgery at TMH. “The question posed to us was, ‘What do we need to do to be a regional leader in surgical technology?’ ” All in all, technology offers “the ability to do things in a more modern fashion, makes things easier to do,” said Hanson, who has worked at TMH for 35 years. “All kinds of things that you wouldn’t think of.”

Some advances just pertain to making a trip to the hospital easier for patients and families — apps can show visitors how to navigate the hospital and where they parked their car. But many changes take treatment to a new level.

DeRosier applauded the ability of physicians to “sit down with our administration and say not only what technology do we need right now, but also where does it look like the future is going and where do we expand? Not only does having that technology allow people to stay closer to home, this is another tool that we have to recruit new specialists.

O PERAT IN G RO O MS

“All 28 of the operating rooms are designed to do any case, any time.”

— LINDA FOX, Service Line Administrator for Surgical Services

E M B R AC I N G T H E F U T U R E

“I think we will be able to grow our capabilities within specialties,” added DeRosier, who practices at Southeastern Plastic Surgery. “Various surgical specialties are becoming more and more technologically heavy with the use of robotic surgery, along with complex angiography.

“Physicians in these new specialties want to come to an environment where the technology is there to support them and they don’t have to come in and reinvent the wheel from the ground up. It’s very much like showing a new car buyer the top-of-the-line European luxury car. And that’s what it (the new center) is going to be.”

Like a luxury vehicle, the M.T. Mustian Center has some top-notch accessories. Just consider the beds, “which are each about $30,000,” said David Adkins, the Supply Chain Executive Director who oversaw purchasing equipment for the building.

The beds are much more than a place to sleep.

“They’re amazing,” said Barbara Alford, TMH’s former Vice President, Chief Clinical and Nursing Officer. “They speak several languages — the bed communicates with all of us.”

The beds can be programmed to ask yes-andno questions to patients in 23 languages, from French to Farsi. “You can customize the list of

questions,” said Adkins. Patients hear questions from speakers next to their heads.

“The bed can ask patients questions like ‘Are you in pain?

Yes or no?’ ‘Is your pain greater than an 8? Yes or no?’ You can customize the questions,” he said, noting that having this ability cuts down on delays to get the patient needed care. “It’s a huge benefit for our teams. It eliminates the need to wait on a translator at times and to care for the patients as fast as possible.”

The beds “also play music,” he added. And are able to weigh the patient without the effect of moving the patient (which is one of the leading causes to back injuries in nursing).

The new beds also enable patients, particularly those with breathing or lung problems, to be easily rotated. “You have to turn a patient 45 or 60 degrees to keep the fluids moving,” said Adkins. In the past, this was done manually, unless the hospital rented a specialized bed.

“The bed goes from a horizontal surface to a sitting-up surface so the patient can actually sit

up,” said Alford. “And you can stand the patient up, which will be wonderful for early ambulation for patients still on ventilators.

“They are also self-propelling,” she said. “The nurse doesn’t have to push the bed. It doesn’t take two people to transport a patient. You can transport with one person. It’s just like a touch of your fingers. You have to guide it a little, but it’s amazing.”

Another ICU room safety feature for both staff and patients is a lift system, said Alford.

“The lift is bolted into the ceiling; it’s part of the ceiling structure,” she said. “It moves on a track and goes vertically and horizontally.”

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ELEVATORS

1,261 R OOM SIGNS

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LIGHT FIXTURES

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LIGHT SWITCH ES

8 | M.T. Mustian Center

There’s a support system hooked up under the patient. “You can move the patient into a chair, you can move the patient to a stretcher, and you can move the patient to a standing position,” said Alford.

“The device helps move the patient without having stress or strain on the colleagues or the patient.”

Adkins said the lift has a “1,000-pound capacity.

It’s a huge safety factor for our staff. I was blown away by the staggering statistics on back injuries due to movement of a patient. It’s customized for any size person, and it moves around the room, so it’s awesome.”

Other vital technology allows a close-up look of what’s going on during surgery, with a camera that collects images that can be shared.

The operating rooms have at least four big monitors that will enable everyone in the room

to see what’s happening during surgery at the moment, said Fox. The information can also be saved to medical records.

“If surgeons needed to go back and see something they did, whatever they chose to save would be available,” she said. “And then it helps us connect with the patient’s family immediately post-op to be able to communicate what they actually did.”

“We don’t have the ability to do that now,” said Fox. “Oftentimes you’ll see the surgeons will draw pictures trying to explain what they did. Now they can show actual images.”

The technology also enables pathologists to immediately review tissue to help make a diagnosis. “If there are questions, both the pathologist and the surgeon can see the tissue

E M B R AC I N G T H E F U T U R E

New technology will allow doctors and nurses to share information and make decisions with cutting-edge efficiency.

at the same time and have a conversation,” said Fox. “That does not currently exist.”

The technology will help surgeons communicate with other physicians in a more direct way than ever before, said Dr. DeRosier.

“A surgeon can be in the room down the hall and have something they’d like me to see,” he said. “If I’m in a room where I can’t see it, I can pull up their camera feed and be able to see what they are looking at in real time. It really provides a powerful tool.”

Another new feature is “shadow lighting,” said Dr. Andrea Friall, TMH Chief Medical Officer and a gynecologist/obstetrician. Lights over the operating table will allow surgeons to be able to see into a deep surgical opening even if someone has their head in the way.

“We’re excited about the lighting technology,” she said.

Cutting down on the time it takes to get equipment from one place to another was also a priority. Aiding in that process is the Hänel

inventory system, which connects the supply operation, where instruments and other sterile items are stored, from the basement to other floors.

Fox refers to the system as a “vending machine.” Adkins calls it a “three-story rotisserie.”

If a surgeon needs a different size of a tool or a piece of equipment that wasn’t expected, the Hänel system gets it to the operating rooms quickly. In the old system, someone would have to leave the operating room and go find the equipment, which could be time consuming.

Under the new system, “Colleagues are going directly to the Hänel system (which is located in the central corridor of all OR rooms) and type in what I’m looking for,” said Fox. “Within 15 seconds, the vending machine will find the item and send it to the correct floor. The doors will open up for colleagues to easily grab and return back to the OR.” Robotics are a hot topic, so aside from the advent of more artificial intelligence in surgery, you’ll see robotics used in other ways, like a

supply cart that travels around the facility. “It’s an intelligent cart and even has manners,” said Adkins. “If it sees anything in front of it, it will wait.

It will say ‘excuse me.’ It will take the elevator and stop at the appropriate room.”

In many ways, humanity mixes with technology to advance the best patient care — and that will be true in the new M.T. Mustian Center as well as the original TMH, said Barbara Alford, retired TMH Nursing Officer, who oversaw a staff of nurses that range in age from 20 to 77 — five generations working in the hospital.

“It’s great to put a new graduate nurse who’s 20-something with one of our more seasoned nurses because they teach each other a great amount,” said Alford. “The new graduate teaches us older nurses about technology. Experienced nurses bring to that new nurse their life experience, their nursing experience. Pairing them up to share life experiences and skills — it’s a real benefit to everyone. That’s exciting to watch.”

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 9

P U T T I N G PAT I E N TS F I R ST

and Their Families

BY ROSANNE DUNKELBERGER

C

hecking in for surgery can be nerve-wracking when an already uneasy patient and their concerned family members have to navigate a bewildering labyrinth of hallways, elevators and procedures.

Administrators knew that years of additions and remodels at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) had made the hospital one of those lessthan-user-friendly spaces. So years ago, when plans were being formulated for the M.T. Mustian Center, right at the top of leadership’s to-do list was

10 | M.T. Mustian Center

to create a welcoming, easy-to-navigate facility staffed with colleagues who would make a visit there as smooth and easy as possible.

But when it gets down to the nitty gritty, who better to ask than the patients and families themselves?

TMH already had a Patient Family Advisory Council, and the architect was meeting with the group even before ground had been broken on the M.T. Mustian Center. Planners and staff had already suggested some improvements, but changes big and small were incorporated into

designs of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the group’s suggestion.

“They definitely wanted to have a separate consultation room instead of standing in the hallway or talking to the doctors inside the room when the patient was there … which we don’t have currently,” said Patricia Kenney, Executive Director of Patient-Centered Care at TMH. “That was something they were excited (to learn) was on the plans initially.”

Another request was a “nice-sized waiting room … that was family friendly with bathrooms

P U T T I N G PAT I E N T S F I R S T

and even showers,” she said. As the service area of TMH expands across the Panhandle and into Georgia and Alabama, “a lot of times you come from out of town and you might want to sleep beside your family member. They even have washer and dryer hookup so they can wash their clothes.”

Again, early on in the process, the lay advisors were taken to an off-site warehouse facility that housed a mock-up of an ICU room and immediately noticed a big problem: The bathroom — something rare in ICU rooms to begin with — was inconveniently placed, right by the room’s entrance. Designers moved the bathroom to the back of the room, which created three distinct areas in the ICU room: the clinical space for nurses to do their work, the patient’s bed and a place for family along the back wall that could accommodate up to five visitors.

The council also suggested larger windows and OK’d the murals of nature scenes from in and around Tallahassee taken by local photographer David Barfield.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 11

P U T T I N G PAT I E N T S F I R S T

Other small but convenient additions include a reading light for guests, a shelf for flowers, a lockable closet, controls for the TV and blinds, USB ports and a cabinet for hiding trash cans and laundry baskets.

“It sounds like a simple thing, but they won’t have to look at it, they won’t have to smell it,” Kenney said of the hidden receptacles. “Again, the architect said ‘Whoa, that’s not something I would have thought about.’ ” The couch has a pop-up table that can be lifted and lowered. Like a futon, the couch can transform into a full-sized bed for family members that prefer to stay overnight.

TMH already has implemented changes that ICU ROOM S allow 24/7 visitation in the ICU rooms, a huge departure from most others, which greatly restrict the number and duration of visits.

“The evidence shows that INTERVENTIONA L patients’ families want to be SUITES with their loved ones,” Kenny said. “Many times they would bend the rules. But then we said, ‘Why are we bending the rules? Why don’t we just make the rules that we are a DOORS welcoming facility.’ ” It wasn’t done at the behest of patient advocates, but a major design innovation in the ICU units is the addition of a central corridor so that everything the patient needs — dietary, trash, linen, pharmacy, supplies — comes to the unit but doesn’t have to be pushed past the patient rooms. It added square footage, and cost, to the project but was an innovation suggested by evidencebased studies.

“The environmental stressors — there’s evidence to show all of the traffic and noise really do take their toll on patients and families and staff and physicians,” said TMH’s former Vice President, Chief Clinical and Nursing

72 4

850

12 | M.T. Mustian Center

During long days and nights, visitors can grab a cup of locally made Lucky Goat coffee at the Eyes of Texas Café — a nod to M.T. Mustian’s Texan roots.

Officer Barbara Alford. “That’s important because that central corridor will then afford patients the quiet, the peace and really healing environment they don’t get now with everything twirling past them, with carts and people hustling and bustling.”

Those coming to the new facility for surgery can say goodbye to the old upstairs/downstairs arrangement that was confusing and, at times, isolating for patients. Now, one can walk in the door and be greeted by a person who will direct them to either the first or second floor — they’re identical, once you get on the floor, you stay there — for check-in and pre-op. The patient is taken to a room, and the family can stay there up until the time of surgery, during surgery, recovery and then after the

patient has been returned to the room post-op.

“What I am just thrilled about from our patient and family standpoint is that separation won’t occur. All rooms in our surgical care unit are private rooms, and family members are going to be able to stay with the patient until they actually leave for surgery,” said Linda Fox, TMH Service Line Administrator of Surgical Services. “They’ll be able to see the anesthesiologist, they’ll be able to see the surgeon, meet … the team that’s going to be caring for that family member in surgery and really stay connected.”

New tracking technology will allow the family to know where their loved one is at all times, and photographic equipment in the operating

room allows surgeons to show actual photos to better inform them about the procedure that just occurred.

“It is very important to us that the family always feels connected to the experience that their loved one is going through,” Fox said.

For those leaving after surgery rather than being hospitalized, a separate back entrance allows for fast and easy pickups.

“To be a part of creating what that patientcentered care area is going to look like, the family area is going to look like, it’s just exciting,” said Alford. “To be able to create something that’s state of the art and that’s evidence-based has been really important for us.”

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 13

IT’S A PRETTY

Big Deal

BY ROSANNE DUNKELBERGER

14 | M.T. Mustian Center

IT’S A PRETTY BIG DEAL

I

f you go just by the numbers, the newly opened M.T. Mustian Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is, without a doubt, a big deal.

A $275 million price tag, requiring a foray into New York’s bond market for financing. A massive, 340,000-square-foot, six-story building, with planning and construction spanning 11 years. Twenty-eight operating rooms and four interventional suites — some twice the size of existing ORs — and 72 intensive care beds with room to grow. More than 50 hospital departments involved in planning and executing the expansion.

But the impact of this new state-of-the-art facility is currently being felt well beyond its white and glass walls — and will continue to do so far into the future.

“ORs and ICUs are the most expensive and complicated spaces in any healthcare facility. You don’t just on a whim decide to make changes,” said Mark O’Bryant, President & CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. “Recognizing this, we actually started talking about this prior to 2008. But we put it formally in our strategic plan … and the reason why we decided to do that is because we realized if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right.”

O’Bryant channels hockey great Wayne Gretzky — who famously said he doesn’t skate to where the puck is, but where it will be — when talking about what he calls a “50-year building.”

“You don’t build one of these facilities only to meet the needs of the community that day,” he said.

“If you’re going to make this type of investment, you need to make sure it’s an investment that’s going to have value for a long time.”

For a number of reasons, Tallahassee and the region are big winners with the expansion.

While much of the existing staff will move from where they currently work, the new facility

adds about 100 jobs to the local economy. And not just nurses and other clinical staff, but also in food service, environmental services and other positions necessary to the smooth running of the building. Administrators expect that number to continue growing as the spaces that formerly housed ORs and ICUs are repurposed.

“All those positions will support the growth moving in, but the continued growth is going to be important as we backfill the space that’s been vacated and we’ll be able to increase the number of beds,” said former Vice President, Chief Clinical and Nursing Officer Barbara Alford.

In a competitive healthcare job market, the state-of-the-art equipment and even just the newness of the M.T. Mustian Center gives TMH recruiters a leg up, said Steve Haynes, TMH’s Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer.

“Anytime you have new patient care space, from a recruitment standpoint, it’s a pretty big deal. And anytime you have new operating suite and ICU space, it kind of exaggerates that big-deal effect because of … so much new technology,” Haynes said. “It’s an opportunity for an organization to replace some equipment.

Just like cars or computers, there’s always the latest and greatest and all the new features. We are beginning to see the appeal, especially to some. If you’re a nurse or an imaging technician or a pharmacist … from a career standpoint, that’s something they want to be a part of.”

TMH works closely with Florida State University, Florida A&M University and other local colleges and schools to create a pipeline from student to employee. The hospital was instrumental in helping create a four-year nursing program at Tallahassee Community College as well as supporting training for other health professions at TCC’s nearby Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education.

“If you’re going to make this type of investment, you need to make sure it’s an investment that’s going to have value for a long time.”

— MARK O’BRYANT, PRESIDENT & CEO OF TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE

45,000 LINEAR FEET O F AU GE RC AST PIL IN G

29,000 SQUARE FEET O F CO N C RE T E PAV IN G

13,000

CUBIC YARDS O F CO N C RE T E

“If they do their clinical training here, we’ve got a reasonable chance of recruiting them,” Haynes said. “They know some of our leaders, they’ve gotten a chance to take a peek under the hood, so to speak, for a number of months, and our goal is for it to be a natural next stop when they start their careers.”

Even before ground was broken for the M.T. Mustian Center three years ago, the hospital sought to create programs that would attract doctors who are on the cutting edge of medical care, including ones that allow complex heart surgeries without opening the chest and brain surgery conducted through the femoral artery.

“Already we’ve seen fewer and fewer people leave to go out of town for medical care,” said O’Bryant. “And that’s mainly because we’ve been expanding the scope of services that we’ve provided. We’ve always been a strong safety net facility, but in the past, we’ve not had the breadth of services that we have now.”

But even more prosaic surgical procedures are part of a healthcare future envisioned

by TMH.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 15

IT’S A PRETTY BIG DEAL

450 TONS

OF CO N C R ET E R E I N FORC IN G STEEL

2,700 TONS

OF ST RUC T U RA L ST E E L

100,000 SQUARE FEET OF MODIFIED B I TU M E N R OOFING

16 | M.T. Mustian Center

“It’s looking like hips and knees,” quipped TMH’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Bill Giudice.

“Back in the day 10 years ago, your stay was five, six, seven days in the hospital. Now it’s two and three days, and it’s rapidly reaching the point where you’ll have major joint replacement on an outpatient basis. We’re watching these trends change.”

Those staying in the hospital will have more need of ICU and intermediate care, he said. And before the M.T. Mustian Center, “we had an inadequate facility for that.”

O’Bryant says it’s an economic boon any time a doctor sets up a practice in Tallahassee.

“That’s about a million-dollar business for every new (physician) that comes in,” he said. “What it does more than anything else is it gives people access to services and a medical home so they don’t have to leave. This is a transformative facility, to say the least.”

It also greatly widens the area served by TMH as patients travel here for surgeries and services.

“That will continue to make a difference to bring patients here who don’t have the ability or means to get to California or Minnesota or New York, and now they can get (care) right here in Tallahassee,” said Alford. “That’s going to be a real benefit for patients and families.”

As her role as project manager for the M.T. Mustian Center winds down, Katie Hill, Project Manager of the M.T. Mustian Center, echoes the sentiments of many of those involved in the planning and construction of a facility that changes Tallahassee’s landscape and the lives of those who will use it.

“I almost feel kidlike, I guess, sometimes when I see it,” she said. “The contractor does this business a lot. The architect designs buildings a lot. But to see something like this coming out of the ground like it has, and the impact it’s going to have on treating patients, it’s pretty exciting.”

While the M.T. Mustian Center building — one of the biggest single construction projects in Tallahassee — is an impressive structure, there is a value to the community that goes far beyond bricks and mortar.

“We always talk about the quality of life of Tallahassee. We have a great quality of life and we brag about it,” said O’Bryant. “One of those foundational components of quality of life is quality of health, and no organization has a greater responsibility in affecting and impacting the quality of health in our region than TMH. We want to improve the quality of life to our community by providing a better, more secure, safer environment for the quality of health of this region.”

Overcoming CHALLENGES

BY ROCHELLE KOFF

A

single page diagrammed with 55 boxes tells a behind-the-scenes story about the launch of the M.T. Mustian Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). Each small box on the chart features deceptively simple labels like “Demolish Offices,” “Save the Dove,” “Relocate chilled water on roof of laundry,” but each one represents a challenge in the creation of the 340,000-squarefoot, $275 million hospital complex.

“There are a lot of memories in those boxes,” said Brian Smith, Senior Project Manager for Birmingham-based contractor Brasfield & Gorrie, which built the hospital’s new Central Energy Plant as well as the M.T. Mustian Center. “These were all the things that needed to happen for us to be able to start construction.”

Work on these “enabling projects” began in 2015 after years of planning the new addition and with the help of the Gresham Smith architectural firm.

“The hardest part of this job was getting to the starting point,” said Laurie L. Dozier, a consultant for TMH on the M.T. Mustian Center. And then, “The greatest obstacles were before we put the foundation in.”

He won’t get any argument from the project’s engineer, Henry Hanson.

“My opinion is that the biggest challenges happened in the beginning,” he said, noting that many vital elements of the hospital’s infrastructure were located on the site of the future M.T. Mustian Center.

“The addition was, in effect, placed in our back door where we received all our materials, where everything took place, where the oxygen tanks were, where the things were that you had to have to run the hospital,” said Hanson. “All those things are fairly big in nature. Moving people — we move people quite a bit, so that wasn’t as hard — but keeping yourself in business while you’re

moving the things that keep you in business gets to be tough.”

The employees who had to be relocated included, “Human Resources, Information Technology functions, education functions — all those had to find a home” so those three buildings could be torn down, he said.

The ambulance ramp also had to be demolished. “Ambulances needed a new way to get into the building, so that was another project that had to happen in conjunction with emergency services,” said Katie Hill, Project Manager for the M.T. Mustian Center.

The box on the chart marked, “Save the Dove,” referred to a special project on the construction site. A 7,000-pound concrete dove encased in bricks was originally part of a wall for Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. Tallahassee’s Childers Construction Company, subcontractors on the M.T. Mustian Center, worked diligently to remove the dove intact and relocate it to Holy Comforter’s new location, said Smith.

“You wouldn’t believe the planning that went into how the dove could be saved,” he said.

A less emotional but also dramatic challenge was moving the 50,000-pound cooling tower that supplied cold water for air-conditioning in the hospital. “It was on top of the existing building,” said Smith. “We had to find a place where we could physically drop it through and then put it on huge steel stilts to drop it down.

“There was a lot of gymnastics in that one,” said Smith, who had as many as 500 employees working on the construction site at one point.

Dealing with new technology and lots of equipment also presented challenges.

“Probably the most complicated thing to build in the hospital is the OR (operating room), and we had 32 of them,” said Smith. “There’s a lot of coordination that goes into all the equipment that’s in the OR.”

23,000 SQUARE FEET OF GLASS

31,000 SQUARE FEET OF TILE

10,000 SQUARE FEET OF T E RRAZZO

262,000 SQUARE FEET

OF SHEE T FLOORING

Having an off-site mock-up of the intensive care unit rooms and operating rooms helped to avoid problems, down to where to place the outlets, he said. “If you don’t like where the outlets go, you’re not changing it five times but 72 times (for 72 intensive care beds). Knowing where things were going was very important.”

Smith called the M.T. Mustian Center “the most challenging project I’ve ever been involved with.”

He also called it one of the “most rewarding.”

“We met every challenge,” he said.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 17

all

THEY P L AY E D A PA R T

BY ROCHELLE KOFF

T

alk to just about anybody involved with the planning of the new M.T. Mustian Center, and they’ll quickly mention one crucial component: An unprecedented number of people played a part in the planning of this ambitious addition to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH).

“The architects say they have never in their history worked on a project where so many of the people that were going to use the building touched it in the design phase,” said Laurie L. Dozier, who was a consultant for TMH on the center.

Katie Hill, TMH’s Project Manager for the M.T. Mustian Center, said as many as 50

18 | M.T. Mustian Center

departments were consulted during behindthe-scenes planning.

“There were a whole lot of people devoting their time to it in addition to keeping their day jobs,” said Hill, who played a role in all aspects of the center. “If we were talking about the intensive care rooms, those nurse managers were part of the design. The satellite pharmacy? Pharmacy was at the table.”

And that table kept growing.

“One of the most important parts for us, particularly in nursing, was that this was a project that from its very inception had nurses at the table,” said Barbara Alford, former Vice President,

Chief Clinical and Nursing Officer. “That was new for us. The fact that the nurses, who were taking care of patients, and the patients and their families could have a voice from the very beginning of the project — not just to ask them what they thought after we built it — was the most exciting thing for all of us, I think.”

With the help of a physical mockup built in a hospital warehouse, patient and family advisors as well as staff shared their vision for the building — from choosing what Dozier calls “cutting-edge equipment” to deciding where to place the outlets.

And details mattered.

T H E Y A L L P L AY E D A PA R T

“We needed to know if the plug was in the right place to be able to run that piece of equipment,” said Linda Fox, TMH’s Service Line Administrator for Surgical Services. “We measured the length of cords — all those kinds of things to make sure that it all fit. All the little things that you don’t necessarily think about, but we simulated it.”

Physicians also had a hands-on role, from determining “where do we put computer screens, where do we put the beds in the rooms, how will we get clean instrumentation in the room to actually participating in the vendors selected to provide technology for the operating rooms,” said Dr. Chris DeRosier, a specialist in reconstructive plastic surgery who served as TMH Chairman of Surgery when the project launched.

For physicians who offered their input in planning the center, “It invokes a sense of pride, to know we helped build it,” he said.

To get that input, TMH cast a wide net, said Dr. Andrea Friall, TMH Chief Medical Officer and an obstetrician/gynecologist. “Everybody who operates in this facility or does procedures had the opportunity to participate.”

And all these ideas came to TMH’s David Adkins, who negotiated all the deals and oversaw the installation of equipment.

“I’ve kind of been the quarterback for all the equipment for the building and planning for the building and operations,” said Adkins, who oversees 68 employees in eight departments, from the laundry to clinical engineering, as TMH Supply Chain Executive Director.

For many of those involved with the center, there has been a personal and professional connection.

When Mark O’Bryant, TMH President & CEO, asked Laurie Dozier to be a consultant on the M.T. Mustian Center, he pitched that connection. “He told me the hospital was in my DNA,” said Dozier.

And no wonder. His grandfathers were Jack W. Simmons, Tallahassee’s mayor in the 1940s who made the motion to build the hospital, and Dr. Laurie L. Dozier, one of TMH’s founding physicians. And his father, also a physician, later served as president of the TMH Foundation.

Dozier was born in TMH as were his siblings and his three children. He was chairman of the TMH Board of Directors when the vote was taken in 2013 to build the M.T. Mustian Center.

“There are operating rooms working today that were there when I was born in 1950,” said Dozier.

“These rooms have been there my whole life, but they won’t be there any more.”

As a consultant, Dozier’s role has been able to “drive decisions” during the entire building process.

“Mark O’Bryant offered me the opportunity of a lifetime to go out on top,” said Dozier. “It’s my crowning achievement to work on such a project, with the history I have with this institution. It’s special. I can’t say it any other way.”

For Henry Hanson, the Project Engineer for the M.T. Mustian Center, his latest role has been the culmination of a 35-year career at the hospital.

Hanson has worked on every major expansion at TMH since he came on board, starting with the south wing and later the Bixler Trauma

& Emergency Center and the Alexander D. Brickler, MD Women’s Pavilion. But the M.T. Mustian Center is “bigger, much more technically oriented,” he said.

“It has a special meaning as it relates to me because it’s named after the person who hired me to come here,” said Hanson. “That may be one of the reasons why I’ve stayed so long to see it done — because Mr. Mustian hired me in 1984.”

For Alford, to be able to play a part in creating something that’s “state of the art” and as “patientcentered” as the M.T. Mustian Center “is just exciting.”

“Now to see your vision of what you thought it was going to be, and to really see it live and up, it’s beautiful,” said Alford. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 19

TAL LAHASSEE M EMOR IAL HEALTHCAR E

History

June 30, 1976

1985

TMH becomes Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center, Inc.

TMH opens the region’s first Newborn, or Neonatal, Intensive Care Unit.

1996

Oct. 19, 1964

M.T. Mustian is appointed administrator of TMH. His tenure with the hospital lasts 25 years.

1979

TMH residency programs begin.

TMH launches the first Electrophysiology Program in the area as part of the Heart & Vascular Center.

Dr. Marilyn Cox was the founding physician.

TMH’s program is one of only a handful in the country to be founded by a female physician.

1972

1977

1981

January 1988

TMH establishes the first ambulance service for Tallahassee. Before this service, funeral homes handled emergency calls.

In an effort to unify nonprofit hospitals nationwide, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, along with 29 other organizations, establishes the Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA).

TMH unveils its helipad, allowing faster transportation services for patients during emergencies.

Duncan Moore, administrator of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, becomes president and CEO of Tallahassee Memorial.

20 | M.T. Mustian Center

H I S TO RY

April 23, 1948

1951

TMH is established at the former Air Force base known as Dale Mabry Field. The hospital was housed in barracks used during WWII.

Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center gains accreditation. It is the longest continuously accredited cancer program in Florida.

1958

TMH undergoes its first renovation, adding a new wing to add emergency, obstetric and expanded surgical services, in addition to a new medical unit.

Nov. 4, 1949

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital opens its doors on the corner of Magnolia Drive and Miccosukee Road.

2005

A statewide study recommends a trauma center be established in the Big Bend. TMH steps up to the plate and establishes the Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center, a level II trauma center for the region.

2001

TMH launches a hospitalist program with four doctors; these physicians are based exclusively in the hospital and care for patients during their hospital stay. Today, it includes more than 30 physicians.

2013

TMH establishes a nurse residency program for new nurses transitioning into their professional career.

2016

2011

TMH debuts its new Cancer Center for outpatient cancer care.

TMH teams up with Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville to expand pediatric specialty care in the capital area, starting first with pediatric cardiology.

1998

2003

2011

2015

Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center becomes Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Mark O’Bryant joins Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare as President and CEO.

TMH opens the Transition Center, an innovative concept focused on helping patients discharged from the hospital receive the follow-up care and resource support to help them get healthier.

TMH Emergency Center Northeast opens to provide greater access for the community in the city’s growing north side.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 21

M .T. M U ST I A N C E N T E R :

Dress Rehearsal

BY ROSANNE DUNKELBERGER

I

n a Broadway production, the actors learn their parts, the technicians plan the light and sound, the designers set the stage and, finally, it all comes together a few days before the opening with dress rehearsals.

And so it has been with the new M.T. Mustian Center, as departments from throughout the hospital did their part to ensure the opening of this state-of-the-art surgery and intensive care building would become a hit with the Tallahassee community.

22 | M.T. Mustian Center

But just to torture the analogy a little bit further, the stakeholders in this process were rehearsing while the play was being written.

About five years ago, in a warehouse a few miles away from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), planners had created a “stage” that would simulate how the rooms in this future complex would look and function.

“We did a mock-up of an OR room, of an intensive care room, of a pre- (and) post-op room and recovery bay,” said Katie Hill, Project

Manager for the M.T. Mustian Center. “The clinical team accessed it from their perspective of caregiving, but then the patient and family advisors assessed it from a vantage point of a patient and what kinds of things they like to see and what would be meaningful for them.”

Representatives from non-patient care areas also were at the planning table, said Yashica WilsonHearns, TMH’s Vice President, Support Services.

“Things on paper, you don’t see the fine details. If you’ve ever built a house, you’re

DRESS REHEARSAL

looking at the plans, you think you might want a plug here; but when you actually walk the space, you think, ‘I should have put a plug here and maybe put a plug there,’ ” she said. “So the warehouse simulation brought everything together.”

Her team also was able to give advice on surfaces, furniture and fixtures that might hold up best, be more easily maintained over time and work throughout the hospital as other areas are updated with textures and colors, including a royal shade of blue they call “Mustian blue.”

All of the equipment in the new operating rooms is new. During the selection process, doctors and staff were invited to try out different products and weigh in on what would work best.

Linda Fox, Service Line Administrator for Surgical Services at the hospital, used the overhead lighting as an example.

“We brought in multiple companies and had them install their products in the mock area,” she said. “The physicians and the OR staff together went over there. They looked at the quality of light … and then they looked at the mobility of it.

Some lights could only swing to a certain degree around the operating room bed. Others had a longer degree of swing. Did you have to take two hands to try and move it, or could you move it with your finger?”

In addition, Fox and her colleagues used the mock rooms to determine the most logical placement of equipment and supplies. To illustrate the process, she discussed the “clean core” area, each of which services seven operating rooms. Here, among other things, is where the team scrubs up for surgeries.

“We did a lot of simulations … we had a lot of things we wanted to do in that space,” she explained. “So we made a list of everything we want to keep stored, or be utilized, or have available in that area and … we laid it all out and (created cardboard copies) in exactly the same size. If we need 15 of this size cart, where will they fit? Where do we need electrical plugs if something needs to be plugged in and kept charged?

“We measured the length of cords, all those kinds of things, to make sure certain pieces like masks and soft goods all fit over a scrub sink … and a garbage can to throw stuff away. Little things that you don’t necessarily think about, but we simulated it.”

She chuckled when she described what they dubbed the “Melinda Rule,” named after the shortest team member, who’s under 5 feet tall.

When placing supplies they asked themselves, “Can Melinda reach it?” Fox said. “And actually tried it.”

TMH Education Coordinator Beth Cao has been working on the “people” part of the preparation for more than a year now. Some of that has been determining what training on what equipment needs to be offered and documented to satisfy accreditors.

Cao said her goal was to train colleagues about the new facility in steps “from simple to complex.”

“You can’t take someone on one tour and expect them to know where everything is,” she said.

To begin, there were tours, “just introducing them to where they’re going to be working and some of the life/safety pieces, such as where the smoke doors, evacuation routes, fire extinguisher and oxygen pulls were located,” Cao said. “Next, any new equipment or technologies they’re going to be using, and then that last stuff is kind of putting it all together, going into their specific departments, seeing all those things in the actual space, and doing some scenarios, kind of like simulations that I was used to in nursing school.”

In the end, people make the difference, said Fox. “It’s the human relationships that really make all of this happen and that we really want to continue to develop and expand on,” she said.

6

ACRE SITE

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Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | 23

TH A N K YO U P LAT INUM SPO NSO R

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare salutes the sponsors who have made this special report possible.

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Ricoh Healthcare

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RT Electric

Ekk Realty Group Mad Dog Design and Construction Company, Inc.

Plaza Tower

Tallahassee Primary Care Associates (TPCA)

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Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic

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Stryker Medical

We are grateful to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare for the opportunity to join them in advancing healthcare in the region. The M.T. Mustian Center wouldn’t be possible without collaboration with our trade partners and the community. brasfieldgorrie.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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GETAWAY

The Cradle of Civilization

|| QUICK TRIP

An Air of Education, Ecology

destinations

SEPT/OCT 2019

VISITING NOTEWORTHY PLACES NEAR AND FAR

GETAWAY

THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION Cairo, Egypt, offers a personal window into the ancient past

by JACK MACALEAVY

↗

PHOTO BY SUZANNE TENG

The Great Sphinx of Giza stands among many statues, sites and symbols that provide an experience of education and intrigue in ancient Egypt.

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C

ivilization as we know it was largely born in the Middle East. It is the birthplace of the oldest — and still one of the largest — language families, is home to 5,000-year-old handmade structures whose impeccable construction still baffles minds today.

Due to incidents that have plagued it in recent decades, this area of the world prompts some travelers to wonder about security. But with proper planning, combined with an interest to engage a travel firm such as Abercrombie & Kent, your journey will be one of education and intrigue, an experience that books, films and photographs cannot do justice.

Abercrombie & Kent has been in business since 1962 handling small-group luxury travel on all seven continents, and it has a country to suit any adventurer. With trips that include small groups of 14 to 18 people, you are guaranteed an intimate and unique experience no matter where you go.

On Day One, your small group will meet in the lobby of a gorgeous hotel, brought together by a group leader who will guide the newly formed “family” through an adventure lasting 12 to 18 days — though longer trips are certainly available — and ensure a smooth journey. The group leader is well versed in the destination’s culture and well prepared for any questions.

Each group also includes support personnel and a bodyguard. In the case of Egypt, they accompany your group in spacious buses and bodacious ships along the Nile.

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PHOTOS BY SUZANNE TENG (LUXOR), DAN WIENCEK (CITADEL), EMILY SLADE PHOTOGRAPHY (MENA HOUSE), AND COURTESY OF ABERCROMBIE & KENT (ZEIN NILE CHATEAU AND SAKKARA)

↑ A view of Cairo ↘ Visitors can marvel at the Temple of Karnak in the ancient city of Thebes.

← The so-called Step Pyramid is part of a vast ancient complex northwest of the city of Memphis.

← A view from the upper deck of the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau, an Egyptian cruise vessel ↑ The Marriott Mena House in Cairo offers a spectacular view of the pyramids.

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destinations

The same goes for transportation on the company’s 50-passenger airplane, which will take you to the last two destinations of your trip.

You’ll stay in four- and five-star hotels, and you’ll see that Abercrombie & Kent goes the extra mile — the extra kilometer, rather — to provide a comfortable and enriching experience.

Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, an Abercrombie representative will meet you at baggage claim and escort you to the historic Mena House hotel, whose balcony offers a memorable view of the Pyramids of Giza. The following day is a full one, with escorted tours of the pyramids and the Sphinx. Nimble-footed adventurists will embrace the opportunity to climb inside the pyramids.

The following day, you will take a short flight to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes. Marvel at the temple of Karnak and stand in the ancient shadow of an obelisk that, at 80 feet tall and 33 feet in circumference, was once the tallest in the world. That afternoon, you will join your luggage on Abercrombie & Kent’s own vessel, Sanctuary Sun, your home base for the following four days of your journey down the Nile. Looking out on the river, you will see from your stateroom the echo of centuries past.

For us, perhaps the most impressive part of the experience was the journey that afternoon to the Valley of the Kings. You would never guess that this simple place among the desert’s dunes houses the massive tombs of pharaohs. The most famous is that of the boy king Tutankhamun, whose 3,500-yearold tomb was discovered in 1922. In it once laid

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his golden sarcophagus, what has since become the face of ancient Egyptian history. Walk through his legacy, among lauded artifacts and faux curses, and at the end you will find Tut himself preserved in glass. His is one of many tombs along the Valley of Kings.

Over the next couple days, you will dock for mornings of experience, heading back to the ship for lunch only to mark each afternoon with more temple discovery. Your riverboat journey ends near the Aswan High Dam, where a private Abercrombie & Kent plane will fly you to Nubia’s Abu Simbel. Here, you can easily spend several hours in fascination over the twin temples of Ramesses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari.

The days of old and new meet where 70-foot structures overlook Lake Nasser, a slightly less ancient site that was formed with the construction of Aswan High Dam in the early 1960s. That afternoon, you will depart for Cairo and settle

in the Nile Plaza for a night of rest at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo.

Next, you will visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, home of the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts. See King Tut’s golden mask and sarcophagus, as well as the famous mummy room where one can view the pharaohs from centuries past and the jewels retrieved from their tombs.

Then leave the ancient world behind as you enter a historic mosque. Sit and listen to a cleric chant one of the daily prayers, deepening your understanding of Islam and the culture that surrounds it with every reverberating word.

This is an open-information forum, so feel free to ask any questions.

The following day, you will be escorted to the airport for your journey home. As you settle back in your comfy chair, the dust of the desert still on your clothes, reflect on your intimate experience of life over 5,000 years ago … when our civilizations began to emerge. TM

PHOTOS BY DAN WIENCEK (MEMPHIS; RAMESSES II STATUE) AND EMILY SLADE PHOTOGRAPHY (DENDERA, HATHOR TEMPLE)

↑ A statue of Ramesses II → A look around the Temple of Hathor, hailed for its preserved artwork.

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QUICK TRIP

AN AIR OF EDUCATION, ECOLOGY Airboat business takes visitors on a Forgotten Coast ride

by LAZARO ALEMAN

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irboats aren’t just for the Everglades.

They’re for the Forgotten Coast, too, as Apalachicola Airboat Adventures will show you.

And Capt. Larry Covell, who owns the business, boasts that he’ll take you where no other boats can go.

“You never know what you’re going to see,” he said. “But it’s all natural.”

No show-boater, Covell takes his charge seriously.

He offers one-, two- and three-plus-hour ecotours on the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay, St. Vincent Island included.

“I don’t do thrill rides,” he said. “I don’t do 360s or jumping over logs and that kind of stuff. But you get a feel for an airboat and what it does, like sliding around corners, which is fun. And you get a sense of the area’s wildlife, history and ecology.”

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A third-generation commercial fisherman who served in the U.S. Navy, fished for halibut on a longline schooner in Alaska and operated his own charter boat in his native Washington state, Covell knows boats and boating, as he does the rules and etiquettes of navigation.

He’s also very familiar with the Apalachicola region, having lived in the area 20 years and studied its history and ecology.

On a recent Friday, Covell gave me an abbreviated tour upriver.

Leaving the marina, he idled the craft in gear to avoid creating a wake until hitting open water, when he went full throttle. Front end rising and propeller roaring, the airboat skipped across the rippled water, bucking rhythmically to the wavelets.

Soon we entered the river proper and began skirting wide expanses of

↖ Larry Covell of Apalachicola Airboat Adventures offers one-, two- and three-plus-hour ecotours but emphasizes, “I don’t do thrill rides. I don’t do 360s or jumping over logs and that kind of stuff.”

← ↑ Customers used to Disney World “had no idea Florida could look like this,” Larry Covell says. He points out that the region includes a lot of reptiles.

tidal marshes and seagrass meadows that line either side, sliding around bends and occasionally startling a bird or alligator.

About a mile upriver, Covell decelerated, turned up a narrowing creek to a secluded spot amidst primal growth and shut off the engine — the ensuing silence near absolute save for the chirp of birds and buzz of cicadas.

“We have the highest diversity of plant life anywhere,” Covell said, pointing out specific trees. “We also have the highest diversity of reptiles.”

Stops and talks are integral to the ecophotography by SAIGE ROBERTS

tours, the educational component that serves to enhance the experience.

Covell described his customers as a mix of local, regional and international visitors, the latter of whom he said tend to stop on their way between Orlando and New Orleans.

“We get lots of Europeans, especially from the Netherlands,” he said.

They often react with disbelief to what they see. What he shows them is no South Beach or Disney World — the images that shape their ideas about the Sunshine State.

“They say they had no idea Florida could look like this,” he said.

Nor did Covell when he ventured into the state in 1998. One day, he decided to motorcycle along U.S. 98 and explore the Gulf Coast. Coming upon Apalachicola, he found himself captivated by its charm and resemblance to the fishing villages of his Pacific Northwest.

“Coming over the bridge, a guy was throwing a cast net, which I’d never seen,” Covell said. “I stopped to watch, then drove into town and read the sign at the entrance calling Apalachicola the oyster capital of the world. So I ate some fresh oysters, and sure enough, they were the best. I looked around, saw the fishing fleet, and thought, ‘Nice.’ ” He continued west to Panama City before deciding to return to Apalachicola.

“West of town, there was a big oyster broker who had semi-trucks, and I stopped to ask if he ever hired drivers,” Covell recalled.

“He said, ‘take your pick.’ I said I could be available in two weeks. He said, ‘I’ll hold the truck for you.’ The rest was history.”

Covell eventually started a charter-boat business and bought into two restaurants.

Then the Great Recession hit. He quit the restaurant business, traded his charter boat for the airboat and started Apalachicola Airboat Adventures.

“I could retire if I wanted,” Covell said.

“But I like my lifestyle.” TM

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Gulf Coast Primitive Pensacola artist relies on simplicity, repetition

N

ever will John H.C. Davis live far from water.

It’s as if coastal sea breezes and salt air and shore birds do not merely inspire him, but sustain the one-time surfer turned kayaker.

“Inland,” he scoffed. “That could never happen.”

Davis spent his early years on an island.

He moved from Puerto Rico to New Orleans after his father, an architect, landed a teaching job at Tulane University. Davis would attend Tulane, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree, marry and raise a son while living in Pensacola. He

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then relocated to South Florida (Vero Beach) where he lived for some 17 years and found that his artwork, a reflection of his coastal meanderings, sold especially well.

For the past two years, Davis has been back in Pensacola, where he maintains a studio and is at work on a series of big, vertical pieces, about six feet in height, just a foot in width and featuring repeated representations of birds and fish.

Davis specializes in woodcuts, a technique that involves carving blocks of wood to create recessed images, rolling the blocks with ink and then pressing the blocks onto paper to produce an image.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Davis then paints the images, which are like oversized coloring book pages. At times, Davis uses linoleum as an alternative to wood because it holds up better.

“A carved piece of wood doesn’t have much of a shelf life, so there are only a few of each of my pieces,” Davis said. “I don’t do numbered editions. Every print is handpulled and hand-painted. One of a kind, each one.”

For anyone who ever passed through Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Davis’s creations will bring to mind the work of Walter Anderson, whose fascinating and intimate relationship with the Gulf Coast

PHOTOS BY STEVEN GRAY

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

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is legendary. Davis is very much aware of Anderson and counts him as an influence.

Davis’s work is grounded in the marine biosphere.

He has a fondness for the creatures he paints. And he knows a fair amount about them. His subjects include the turtles, gators, wading birds and marlins favored by many artists. But, delightfully, he moves beyond the familiar to depict species including skimmers and leopard rays.

“I experienced the leopard stingray when I lived in the Caribbean,” Davis recalled.

“They are migratory, seagoing rays that follow the Gulf Stream. Big. They have

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wingspans up to 15 feet. And they mate for life and travel in families. They’re really pretty cool.”

Skimmers are shore birds that feed by flying so close to the Gulf ’s surface that their lower bill enters the water. Davis produced his skimmer design in days leading up to a show in Pensacola. He has an osprey design, too, that “carries a little bit of the same strength.”

Davis can be an itinerant sort. For 24 years, he has carried his art to shows around the region, and last year, he made the Chain of Parks Art Festival in Tallahassee part of his itinerary.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

That event impressed Davis and he, as it happens, impressed festival personnel.

Davis was unaware that he might qualify to become the Chain of Arts cover artist when, last year, festival officials stopped by his booth. One painting in particular attracted their attention.

And this year, a Davis palm tree painting appeared on the festival poster, the cover of its program booklet and on event T-shirts.

And so it was that Davis was made glad for having departed from form and depicted a rooted living thing versus one that swims or flies.

PHOTOS BY STEVEN GRAY

John H.C. Davis, who counts Mississippi’s Walter Anderson and Russia's Wassily Kandinsky as influences, paints a wood-cut print of a favorite bird. The artist, never far from water, is in his Pensacola studio.

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Harvest Wine & Food Festival Cheers to Three Years

I

t’s one of those idyllic afternoons where you have to pinch yourself as a reminder that this is reality.

Dappled sunlight filters through the trees, beautifully alighting the crimsons, golds and blushes being sipped by smiling lips. Live music resonates as a soundtrack to the evening, and you are pleasantly satisfied by a variety of coastal cuisine options. The Harvest Wine & Food Festival transcends this surreal experience.

“The festival is such a sensory and beautiful experience that it feels like the set of a movie,” said John Russell, president of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

The third annual event will occur Oct. 24–26 in the beautiful South Walton beach town of WaterColor and is presented by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which supports 16 local children’s charities.

“It is a farewell to summer but also a celebration of the abundance and harvest that fall brings,” said Russell. “Where each year our harvest of wine and food grows, we continue to expand the attendance, which benefits our mission of giving to 16 charities.”

Last year, the festival occurred 17 days after Hurricane Michael’s landfall. While at first unsure if they should proceed, DCWAF decided the charge to raise money was more urgent than ever with such devastation and need in the surrounding community. Last year’s event raised over $100,000, with $21,447 raised for The Sonder Project to assist those affected by the hurricane. DCWAF anticipates raising both the dollar amount and number of attendees this year.

The festival begins on Thursday, Oct. 24, with three Celebrity Winemaker Dinners hosted in homes and restaurants throughout South Walton.

On Friday, Oct. 25, the Al Fresco Reserve Tasting will present an elevated experience featuring rare vintage wines paired with high-end cuisine on par with the James Beard level. The elegant evening will take place during the golden hour, complete with a live band to set the tone for the night.

The main event, The Grand Tasting, will be on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1–4 p.m., and highlights harvest season at the beach with a bounty of over 250 wines, beers and spirits to please your palate. Coastal seafood, barbecue and market-

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style stations will be served by celebrity chefs and distinguished Gulf Coast restaurants. The acclaimed Fox Brothers of Atlanta will be back again to showcase their world-famous barbecue.

Each hour, the demo stage will highlight vendors teaching everything from wine and cheese pairings to barbecue techniques.

Throughout the weekend, attendees will have the opportunity to bid in a silent auction featuring a variety of unique wines, staycations, experiences and more.

A new addition to this year’s festivities is a private seminar occurring an hour before the Grand Tasting begins. Sommelier Marika Vida-Arnold will be leading the exclusive tasting seminar and showcasing headlining winery Bodega Catena Zapata’s luxury wines.

Vida-Arnold is currently a Wine Educator for the famed Argentine winery Catena Zapata, and she is a member of the Full Circle Sommelier Network, working with master sommelier Evan Goldstein.

Bodega Catena Zapata is a family-owned winery located in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery, founded in 1902, was a pioneer in introducing European winemaking techniques to Argentina, including the introduction of Malbec.

Vida-Arnold’s seminar will treat attendees to six different Malbecs with unique flavor profiles that showcase distinct elevations and soil types from throughout the region. They will all be 100% Malbec, but from various vineyards and ranging in price from $20–$100.

“Catena Zapata is most looking forward to being a part of what this festival does for others,” said Vida-Arnold. “The 16 children’s charities that Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation helps is inspirational. I want to be a part of any organization that realizes we are put on this earth to help others!”

The third time will be another charm, with a roster of impressive wines, superb food samplings, enlightening activities and the promise of increased funds raised for DCWAF’s deserving charities.

“We want our festival to provide the best wine and food you’ve ever experienced,” said Russell. “We work hard to partner with the highest quality possible for those who appreciate quality wine and food. It’s a laid-back, relaxed yet luxury event in the picture-perfect place.”

“ We want our festival

to provide the best wine and food you’ve ever experienced. ” -John Russell, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Oct. 24 Celeberity Winemaker Dinners Tickets: $150

Oct. 25 Al Fresco Reserve Tasting Tickets: $200

Oct. 26 Mad About Malbec Seminar Tickets: $50

Oct. 26 Grand Tasting main event

Tickets: $150 for general admission & $300 for VIP To purchase tickets visit: HarvestWineandFood.com

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Three of Northwest Florida’s beaches claim coveted spots on list

Panama City Beach (3) Visitors posting reviews to TripAdvisor’s website noted PCB’s soft sand, clear water and numerous public access points. A reviewer from Tallahassee wrote: “We take the 2½-hour drive there whenever we can. We love the beaches as well as the shopping and restaurants.”

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

TripAdvisor, which bills itself as the world’s largest travel wbsite, announced in February the winners of its Travelers’ Choice awards for the 25 top beaches in the United States.

Three Northwest Florida beaches made the list: Panama City Beach at No. 3, Pensacola Beach in fifth place and Navarre Beach, which earned the No. 12 spot.

Of the 25 beaches on the list, 40 percent are in Florida and almost 30 percent are in Hawaii. Award winners were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period.

TripAdvisor described Navarre Beach this way: “Tucked away in a corner of Northwest Florida, far from crowded theme parks and packed beaches, you will find a piece of the Old Florida offering solitude and simplicity for sun seekers, families, outdoor adventurers, nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts.”

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Wrote one reviewer: “This is a beautiful beach with dolphins, turtles and lots of seabirds. There are choices for watersports, including deep-sea fishing, dolphin watching, paddleboarding, sailing and lots of other options right on the beach.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH, VISIT PENSACOLA AND FLORIDA'S MOST RELAXING PLACE (NAVARRE)

Navarre Beach (12)

Pensacola Beach (5)

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Music, Food and Fun for Everyone

Lady Antebellum Gulf Coast Jam

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

Aug. 30–Sept. 1

The seventh annual Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam brings the best of country music to Panama City Beach for a weekend for sun, fun and tunes at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Wade in the water and dance in the sand while you enjoy live performances by country music stars Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Kid Rock and more.

GulfCoastJam.com

Florida Scallop, Music and Arts Festival Aug. 30–Sept. 1

Musical acts Bill Wharton, Frank Jones Band and Hot Tamale take the stage at George Core Park in Port St. Joe for a festival embracing live music and the arts. Of course, scallops will be included.

ScallopFestFL.org

Gulf Coast Summer Fest Jazz Edition Aug. 31–Sept. 1

An impressive lineup of jazz musicians headlines the fourth annual Gulf Coast Summerfest Jazz Edition at Pensacola’s Maritime Park.

Bring your beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers, and enjoy a variety of live jazz performances at this beautiful venue on Pensacola Bay.

GulfCoastSummerfestJazzEdition.com

Sandestin Triathalon The annual Sandestin Triathlon is expected to attract more than 700 participants who will compete in an endurance test involving a halfmile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike along the coast and a 4-mile run through Sandestin’s beach and bayside community.

Sandestin.com

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PHOTO BY SHELLY SWANGER

Sept. 7

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BEACHES

Emerald Coast Home & Boat Show

prizes are awarded at weigh-ins, and children are encouraged to participate. All events are free and open to the public.

Sept. 21–22

DestinFishingRodeo.org

Attend the biggest and best home and boat show in the region featuring 120 indoor vendors and 30,000 square feet of outdoor space. There will be over $20,000 in giveaways and door prizes. All proceeds will benefit Homes for Heroes, Special Olympics Florida, Kiwanis International and The Children’s Neighborhood.

Taste of the Beach Oct. 18–19

One of Pensacola’s largest food events of the year, Taste of the Beach serves up cooking competitions, a team cookoff, tastings, concerts and kid-friendly activities. Friday features a VIP dinner, and Saturday is the day for the main event, the food festival, which is held at Casino Beach.

EmeraldCoastHomeShow.com

TasteOfPensacolaBeach.com

2019 Vettes at the Beach Sept. 27–28

View over 300 sleek Corvettes from all over the country at a weekend of car fanatic fun presented by the Miracle Strip Corvette Club. Thirty-one trophies will be awarded in various categories, and many vendors will be on hand at the Casino Beach parking lot in Pensacola.

MiracleStripCorvette.com

Pensacola Seafood Festival Sept. 27–29

Seafood lovers will rejoice as Pensacola dishes up Gulf seafood prepared by some of the area’s best restaurants and vendors.

The stars of this three-day festival include platters of fresh-caught fish, shrimp, scallops, crab, grouper, alligator, lobster rolls, crawfish mac ’n’ cheese, grits a yaya, seafood skewers, jambalaya, coconut shrimp, paella, conch fritters and more. Also, watch chef demonstrations, peruse arts and crafts and entertain the kids all at Seville Square Park in Pensacola.

PensacolaSeafoodFestival.com

Eggs on the Beach Sept. 28

The sixth annual Big Green Egg Cooking Competition will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, as competitors serve up “eggstraordinary” fare prepared on Big Green Egg smokers/grills. Cook teams will be smoking and grilling their favorite dishes while tasters vote for their favorites. Attendees

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can taste samples from 30 cook teams, enjoy live music and the ENCO Sports Zone, take part in the Knob Creek craft cocktail tasting seminar, enter a charity drawing and more. Proceeds benefit the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought.

Destin Fishing Rodeo Oct. 1–31

The Destin Fishing Rodeo is a monthlong event held each October. Nightly weigh-ins are held on the docks behind A.J.’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. Significant

Taste, sip and experience the Best of the Emerald Coast at our 20th annual event, which showcases the businesses that our community awarded with “Best of” honors. The public is invited to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin for an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment, all to benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. The fun starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m.

EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/bestof-the-emerald-coast

EggsOnTheBeach.com

Sept. 28 | Oct. 5 | Nov. 9

Florida Chapter American Heart Association | Regional Heart Walks The Florida chapter of the American Heart Association will host three Heart Walks this fall, each with a focus on improving cardiovascular health. The Okaloosa Walton Heart Walk will take place Sept. 28 at Northwest Florida State College for Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The Northwest Florida Heart Walk will be Oct. 5 at Seville Square for Pensacola and the surrounding areas. The Bay County Heart Walk is scheduled for Nov. 9 at St. Andrews State Park. Registration for the Okaloosa Walton, Northwest Florida and Bay County Heart Walks may be made at OWHeartWalk.org, NWFLHeartWalk.org and BayHeartWalk.org, respectively.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Pirates of the High Seas Fest Oct. 11–13 Argh, matey! Columbus Day weekend, pirates will invade Panama City Beach for a weekend of activities, including a main parade, a kids parade, scavenger hunts, a water battle, a pirate invasion, live music, food vendors, fireworks and more.

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com

Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally Oct. 23–27

Rev your engines for what’s known as “The Most Biker Friendly Free Rally in the United States.” The rally is held twice a year in May and October and invites bikers from around the country to enjoy beautiful rides along the Emerald Coast. Entertainment and a variety of local cuisines will be on site.

ThunderBeachProductions.com

Harvest Wine & Food Festival Oct. 24–26

PHOTOS BY ALLISON YII (EC BOAT SHOW) AND LAND • AIR • SEA PRODUCTIONS (BLOODY MARY FESTIVAL) AND COURTESY OF VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH (PIRATES OF HIGH SEAS FEST) AND FOO FOO FESTIVAL

See page 140.

Marry me at the Beach Wedding Expo Oct. 27

See page 139.

Foo Foo Fest Oct. 31–Nov. 11

Foo Foo Fest is a 12-day celebration of culturally creative happenings, events and moments under one banner, attracting visitors to beautiful Pensacola.

Foo Foo Fest is big fun, featuring events of high artistic and cultural caliber, all delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication.

From opera to graffiti, a variety of culturally inclined events will take place at locations throughout Pensacola.

FooFooFest.com

Florida Seafood Festival Nov. 1–2

The 2019 Florida Seafood Festival will take place in Apalachicola’s historic Battery Park. The event, after 56 years, is the oldest maritime event and annually draws thousands of visitors to Apalachicola. It features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits and the famous oyster eating and shucking contest. Other events include the blue crab races, the 5K redfish run, the blessing of the fleet, a parade and contests.

FloridasForgottenCoast. com/event/florida-seafoodfestival/2019-11-01

Hangout Oyster Cook-off & Craft Beer Weekend Nov. 1–2

Sup on oysters and sip on spirits prepared by some of the Southeast’s best chefs — all while strolling the scenic Gulf Shores of Alabama. There will also be a shucking contest and cooking demonstrations, all in honor of the oyster.

HangoutCookoff.com

Emerald Coast Cruizin’ Nov. 6–9

Car enthusiasts descend on this event, which is all about classic, stylish cars. View thousands of hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and classics. The schedule of events includes cruise-ins, car vendors, concerts, parades and food.

EmeraldCoastCruizin.com

Junior League of Panama City Beach Holly Fair Nov. 7–10

Deck your halls with boughs of holly and other home goods thanks to Holly Fair, presented by the Junior League of Panama City Beach. This holiday tradition helps fund the Junior League’s many community projects. Over 90 vendors will be selling apparel, jewelry, crafts and more.

JLPanamaCity.org/HollyFair

The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival Nov. 2

This always anticipated event will feature bloody marys from the area’s best restaurants. Enjoy three hours of unlimited tastes of up to 25 of the Emerald Coast’s most creative bloody marys.

Guests will also enjoy local food options, a commemorative cup, a mimosa bar, live music, special shopping options from the merchants of The Market Shops, and a chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award for the Best Bloody Mary in South Walton 850tix.com/events/the-market-shops-5th-annual-bloody-mary-festival

Beach Home for the Holidays Nov. 29–30

Begin the holidays right with a lineup of winter activities, including carol-themed concerts, s’mores, lighting the Christmas tree, an appearance by Santa and activities for the kids.

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/ holidays

Panama City Beach Marathon Dec. 7

Run through paradise. Regardless of whether you choose the

marathon, half marathon, 5K or kid’s fun run, the scenic Gulf of Mexico run will be worth it.

PCBMarathon.com

Beach Ball Drop Dec. 31

Celebrate the exit of 2019 and the entrance of 2020 at this familyfriendly countdown that rings in the new year with fireworks and 10,000 beach balls being dropped over the crowd. Watch the famed beach ball descend to signify the start of a new year. Live music and vendors will be present throughout the night.

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com

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2020 EVENTS

popular events allows guests to sip and swirl hundreds of wines over the course of four days. Wine and dine through special wine dinners, meet celebrity winemakers and chefs, buy your favorite wines, enjoy live music, attend interactive demos and shop The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

30A Songwriters Festival Jan. 17–20

Sandestin Gumbo Festival

SandestinWineFestival.com

Seabreeze Jazz Festival brands of this classic Creole dish. This promises to be a weekend filled with food, live music, family activities and much more.

SandestinGumboFestival.com

February (tentative)

30A Wine Festival

Restaurants and businesses along the Gulf Coast vie for the title of “area’s best” as they create and serve their own

The ninth annual 30A Wine Festival is a highly acclaimed event expressing

Feb. 19–23

April 22–26 the art of the vintner’s craft and culinary creativity. Events include tastings, wine dinners, seminars, a croquet tournament, bourbon tastings and more. This year, the wine festival will be supporting the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to health services for children in Walton and Okaloosa counties.

Recognized as a “Top 10 Jazz Festival in the USA” by JazzIZ magazine, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival features an impressive roster of smooth jazz artists for a weekend of music appreciation, good times, fun vendors and great beaches. Thousands will listen to smooth and soulful sounds during this performance-packed weekend.

30AWineFestival.com

SeabreezeJazzFestival.com

Panama City Beach Mardi Gras & Music Festival

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

Feb. 21–22

A taste of New Orleans on the beach. This family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration takes place in Pier Park and includes parades, float tours, a street fair, kids zones, live music and, of course, plenty of beads.

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/ MardiGras Business Insurance Specialists: Will Croley, Angie Hearl, Mary Katharine (Croley) Lawler, Doug Croley

UNwineD

March 20–21 Raise a glass to a weekend of fine wine, craft beer and quality spirits paired with culinary creations from some of Northwest Florida’s best chefs. The event takes place at beautiful Aaron Bessant Park.

Be sure to bring your lawn chair or blanket to listen to live music while sipping and swilling.

We Focus on Your Insurance So You Can Focus on Your Business 2814 Remington Green Circle, Tallahassee, FL 850-386-1922 • www.dougcroleyins.com

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VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/ UNwineD

34th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival April 16–19

One of the region's most

April 23–26

A dazzling roster of dozens of celebrity winemakers, distillers, chefs, brewmasters and entertainers converge in South Walton to wine, dine, educate and entertain guests as part of this four-day celebration.

Throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard, attendees will enjoy attractions such as spirits row, champagne lane tastings, savor South Walton culinary village, nosh pavilions, tasting seminars, craft beer, live entertainment and samplings of more than 800 wines.

SoWalWine.com

Jeep Beach Jam May 13–17

Jeep enthusiasts delight in a fiveday event about all things Jeep.

Thousands travel to Frank Brown Park for this event, which includes obstacle courses, a jeep parade, live music, vendors, bonfires, kids activities and more.

JeepBeachJam.com

PHOTOS BY SHELLY SWANGER

More than 5,000 music lovers will gather for the 30A Songwriters Festival. This unique event is a fourday music extravaganza featuring over 175 songwriters and musicians performing original songs in various genres, ranging from country and Americana to folk and blues in over 30 dedicated listening rooms on historic Highway 30A in South Walton. The festival is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) and Russell Carter Artist Management. All of the net proceeds benefit the CAA. 30ASongwritersFestival.com

D ES T IN

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PROMOTION

PLAY • SHOP • DINE • STAY

at the Forgotten

Coast

FLORIDA SCALLOP, MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL AUG. 30–SEPT. 1

Salt Air Farmers Market Sept. 1, 7, 21 and Oct. 5, 19 City Commons Park Port St. Joe Bo Spring Band Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, 7 p.m.

Bowery Station Apalachicola

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS the cultural fun of the 23rd annual Florida Scallop, Music and Arts Festival. Musical acts Bill Wharton, Frank Jones Band, Rachel Hillman, Hot Tamale and more take the stage at George Core Park in Port St. Joe for a festival embracing live music and the arts. Of course, plenty of scallops prepared a variety of scrumptious ways will be included.

PHOTO BY ERIC ILASENKO

↖

Events Calendar

Jeff White Sept. 18 , 6 p.m.

Bowery Station Apalachicola Blast on the Bay Oct. 17–20 Port St. Joe Beach

ScallopFestFL.org

3 LIVE OAK POINT

VISIT THE

Forgotten Coast

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1 GULF SPECIMEN AQUARIUM

A unique experience to get up close with sharks, sea turtles, starfish, octopus and other sea life from the Gulf of Mexico. One of the largest touch tanks exhibits in the U.S. Open Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

(850) 984-5297, gulfspecimen.org 222 Clark Drive, Panacea

September–October 2019

1

MEXICO BEACH

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

ives and businesses are being rebuilt along the Forgotten Coast after the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael in October of 2018. As the healing process continues, please lend your support to this region and remind them that they are never forgotten by their friends and neighbors.

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LANARK VILLAGE

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Abodes

SEPT/OCT 2019

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

INTERIORS

PHOTO BY KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

IT’S CURTAINS FOR THE DRAB LOOK Bring life to your home through the right window dressings

by KAITLYN HENDERSON

EXTERIORS

A Southern Staple

|| GARDENING

Watering Strategies for the Dry Season

|| NEIGHBORHOODS

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→

S

o you’re looking for a fresh view.

Perhaps opportunity awaits at the windows of your own home. They could be the key to making your home come together.

In our July-August edition, we focused on getting the most out of your windows in terms of insulation, energy efficiency and the glass itself. Now we’ll explore choosing the right window dressings.

But where do you begin? How do you do it?

“I’ll tell you how I do it,” says Rose Marie Brabec, coowner of Design & More Interiors.

She says it all starts with recognizing a style that a home offers.

If you want curtains or drapes, use a variety of fabric samples and see what works best for your space. You can keep it simple with neutral tones or make things pop with a colorful pattern. Fabric samples will help to envision your new space.

Or maybe you want shutters and won’t need fabric. To begin your transformation, you have endless designs from which to choose.

Just remember that looks aren’t everything.

“Your window space should consider function as much as appearance,” Brabec says.

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In Florida, where heat and hurricane advisories permeate the summer season, weather is something to think about when finding your right window system.

If you’re looking to block those sunrays, consider pleated shades, which are energy efficient.

If you want to take it up a notch, you might “Your window opt for dual-light shades. They offer a sheer layer space should that gives you the right coverage during the day consider and then another layer to pull down at night for a perfect blackout. function as Night and day may be the least of your worries, much as though. appearance.”

Hurricane weather has become more frequent in —Rose Marie Brabec, northern Florida, and Andrew Poole of Gulf Breeze co-owner of Design & Windows & Blinds urges homeowners to prepare.

More Interiors You’ll want strong windows. Poole suggests that homeowners consider external window systems that lock into place.

In the digital age, of course, window systems offer technology far more complex than that, including automated systems that allow you to control your windows from a remote control or a smartphone.

This is ideal for hard-to-reach windows and can be used to tilt, raise, lower or open shades, blinds and draperies. TM

PHOTO BY IN4MAL / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

For curtains or drapes, use a variety of fabric samples and see what works best.

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SPONSORED REPORT

SELECTING THE

PERFECT SOFA With Turner’s Fine Furniture

M

any say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and while that may be true, there’s something equally as special about a living room. It’s where you laugh (or cry) with your favorite TV show, cheer on your team during the big game or just simply gather family and friends. And, building your living room starts with one central piece — the sofa. There are so many factors to consider when it comes to selecting the best sofa for your lifestyle, but two important things are quality and comfort. At Turner’s Fine Furniture, you’ll find a showroom full of top quality sofas that are not only comfortable but also beautiful! A lot goes into making the very best quality sofas, and Turner’s designers are on hand to explain all the features and options as well as give expert advice on the perfect style to complement your space.

Whether choosing a sofa from the showroom floor or creating a custom piece, you’re sure to find something you’ll love from the incredible selection at Turner’s!

STORY BY STACI WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT CHILDS, TOMLINSON MARKETING GROUP FURNISHINGS BY TURNER’S FINE FURNITURE

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There are many things that make a sofa the very best, from the basic construction to all of the options you have to create a unique piece. Plus, these sofas are specifically engineered with the perfect pitch, making them extremely comfortable.

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SPONSORED REPORT

One major thing that people love is the ability to choose from the hundreds of top-quality fabrics Turner’s has available. And when you touch these fabrics, you can just feel the difference! Even select the finishing-touch details like welt cords and fringe for the accent pillows.

A quality-constructed sofa starts with a solid hardwood frame that has legs actually built into the frame. Eight-way, hand-tied coil springs provide the very best support for the sofa.

There are also several other features to look for in your next sofa. Skirts with backing will allow them to hang nice and straight. Cushions upholstered on both sides can be flipped, therefore improving the longevity of your sofa. Also, having channel sewn back cushions allows the inside fiber to hold its shape.

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SPONSORED SPONSOREDREPORT REPORT

At Turner’s, you’ll find a variety of sofas to reflect your style and budget.

From beautiful upholstered and slipcover looks to the finest leather, let Turner’s design experts help you find the perfect sofa to make your room feel personal and unique! Visit us in store or browse our online showroom at www.TurnerFurniture.com.

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EXTERIORS

A Southern Staple The front porch still adds classic charm to a home

by ZACHARY BETHEL

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he front porch, a staple in Southern-style homes, is making a comeback in home design.

Brandon Jett, owner of Jett Builders and president of the Tallahassee Builders Association, said he receives requests for both front and rear porches on new custom homes.

“I also understand when I’m building a new custom home that front porches are very important to people,” Jett said. “They want them to look nice and be functional.”

The front porch is iconic in American culture, particularly in the South, where families used it as an extension of the home.

Family members of all ages could sit or play nearby and stay engaged with life inside and out.

Most people recall the classic, front-facing porches that wrap around one or more corners of the house and feature white railings and wide steps leading to the entry.

“With the farmhouse and Southern-style homes, the porch was actually what you initially

PHOTO COURTESY OF GERALD TOOKES AERIAL PRODUCTIONS

↖ Front porches are resurfacing in home designs, including in Tallahassee’s emerging Pine Dove Farm development.

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Joan H. Raley, REALTOR® CRS, CDPE, SFR, e-PRO, GRI, ABR, CHMS, WCR | Home Economist, Broker/Owner

Mobile & Text: 850.545.9390 JOAN@JOANRALEY.COM JoanRaley.com

abodes

↑ The Aberdeen model at Pine Dove Farm features an open air

porch, which provides a welcoming introduction to the two-story home. Open air porches, also known as farmer’s porches, add a dimensional element that creates space for an outdoor living area.

felt about the house,” Tallahassee builder Marvin McPhate said. “There’s a porch. It’s welcoming me. This house says ‘Hi, come on and have a seat.’ ” McPhate, owner and operator of Vanguard North, Inc., a custom home builder and remodeling company, said he doesn’t think porches are coming back.

“I don’t think they really ever left,” McPhate said.

“House styles come and go … I don’t think I’ve ever built a house where people wouldn’t love to have a porch on it.”

Front porches have resurfaced in new house designs, including in Tallahassee. Consider Pine Dove Farm, which calls itself a planned agricultural community. All model homes in the emerging development include a front porch.

Owners of existing homes who want to add a front porch must consider their home’s design — and the costs, which can be prohibitive.

“The first thing we have to try and do is make the porch blend in with what is already there,” said Jett, of Jett Builders. “So it is very important that when we get done with the porch that it actually looks like it was born there. You want it to look like it’s part of the original home.”

McPhate said it starts with roof style.

“If you have the proper roof style, then you can do something with the porch so it looks like it was intended to be there,” he said. “It really comes down what roof style you have to play with and how much room you’ve got in your budget.” TM Laurie Einstein Koszuta contributed to this report.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF GERALD TOOKES AERIAL PRODUCTIONS

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HOW-TO: WATERING STRATEGIES FOR THE DRY SEASON

BY AUDREY POST, MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

THERE’S A LONG-RUNNING JOKE THAT GOES

“if you don’t like the weather in North Florida, just wait a few hours because it will change.” This has never been truer, as winters are unpredictable and hurricanes have become more frequent.

There are two things you can reasonably count on, though: Late summer will be hot and humid, and fall tends to bring drier weather. Using smart watering techniques can get your garden through the “dry season.”

2 The exception to this

rule is for new plantings of

PESKY PESTS

shrubs. University of Florida research has shown that frequent light watering is best as shrubs get established. Apply a gallon of water per shrub to the root-ball every two to four days in North Florida for 28 weeks after planting. And, consider adding shrubs in the future at the beginning of the rainy season so

SEPTEMBER

➸ Plant cool-season vegetables such as carrots, lettuces, collards and broccoli. Provide afternoon shade if temperatures remain in the upper 80s and higher. ➸ Pinch back poinsettias and mums early in the month to encourage buds to form in time for holiday blooming. ➸ Plant perennials firebush (Hamelia patens) and firespike (Odontonema stricta) for fall color. Your bonus is they also attract hummingbirds.

Mother Nature can share the watering load.

3 Watch your established

ornamental shrubs and flowers for signs of wilting, and then water. Don’t wait until the leaves begin to die.

4 Water early in the day to give leaves and blades of grass time to dry before

dark, to minimize the chance of disease and fungi developing. Set rain gauges around your yard to make sure your irrigation system is getting to its intended targets. Empty tuna cans, washed and marked at quarter-inch intervals inside with a permanent marker, make efficient and economical gauges.

Critter: Moles and Voles

➸ Set out strawberry plants, either in the ground or in large containers.

Water daily until established. ➸ Plant cool-season annual flowers, including foxglove and nasturtium, and coolseason herbs such as dill, cilantro, parsley and sage. Salad greens can also be planted now. ➸ Plant daffodil bulbs.

Carlton, Thalia and Sweetness are good for North Florida.



So you’re finding mounds of dirt that look like little volcanoes in your yard? A raised ridge running through your yard that appears to be a tunnel just below the surface? Or do you have 1- to 2-inch “runways” in your lawn, bare patches where the grass has disappeared? If it’s the first two, you have a mole. If it’s the third one, you have a vole. Big difference. Moles belong to the same family as shrews and bats. The raised ridges are moles’ VOLE hunting tunnels, which they usually use just once. They live in chambers much deeper in the soil and eat a lot of pest insects and their larvae, including mole crickets, armyworms, cutworms and Japanese beetle grubs.

Once considered garden pests, moles’ value as part of an Integrated Pest Management plan and the fact their tunneling aerates and improves the soil caused a shift in attitude.

The biggest danger to your lawn from mole tunneling is that the roots can dry out and die.

Stomp down the ridges, then water well. Voles, however, are pest rodents. They eat grass, plants and roots of trees and shrubs. They create “runways” as they gnaw their way through your yard. The best way to get rid of them is to remove inviting habitat: Don’t mulch close to trees or shrubs, and don’t let yard debris pile up. Move it to a compost pile and turn it regularly, or create a wildlife habitat and let nature’s food chain do its job.

OCTOBER

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©2015-2019 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. illustration by LINDSEY MASTERSON

PHOTOS BY TANUHA2001 (BROCCOLI ), HONG VO (STRAWBERRIES) AND CREATIVENATURE_NL (VOLE) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

1 Water your lawn less often but more deeply if it needs it. Watering in frequent short bursts encourages shallow root development and build-up of thatch, which makes your grass less likely to survive a dry spell or drought.

Your Monthly Garden Chores

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abodes

NEIGHBORHOODS

SouthWood A planned community that some residents never want to leave

by SARAH BURGESS and JORDAN ANDERSON

O

n Tallahassee’s southeast side, so far out of town that pilots use a redroofed house as a marker for where to turn to the airport, you’ll find the master-planned community of SouthWood.

Occupying miles of former pineland and pastureland, the neighborhood offers over 1,000 acres of interconnected green space and the spirit of community that its founders envisioned.

Upon entering SouthWood on Merchants Row Boulevard, you encounter a line of quaint houses that hint at a community that bonds. The neighborhood trumpets relationships and connectivity and even has an Art of Living director.

Keep driving and arrive at the town center, which includes a health club, a church, an upscale nail salon and eateries.

SouthWood also features an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, parks, lakes, nature trails, a tot lot, a community center, quick access to a Publix and Starbucks and multiple green spaces, including parks and lakes. Schools and office complexes line its perimeter.

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That gives many residents all they need.

One resident jokes that it’s a bad week when he has to leave the neighborhood.

“Where else could I go where I can live in a great community, have access to all the events and I get to take my son to school on a golf cart in the morning?” said resident Kerry Drew, referring to the elementary school at Florida State University Schools.

Drew said he has lived in SouthWood for about seven years with his wife, Wendy, and their son, William. One of his first big purchases: the golf cart that he says also takes him to the town center for a Mexican meal or for a workout at the gym.

“My wife and I like to get to know people, to socialize, so this was the best place in the world for us to move,” Drew said. “We met everybody that we know here. What’s unique about SouthWood is that it doesn’t matter if you’re my son’s age or in retirement. There’s something for everybody.”

The St. Joe Company acquired the land and envisioned it as a master-planned community that news organizations began to write about as early as the late 1980s. Mike

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Kerrigan, corporate director of marketing for the St. Joe Company, said the company “aimed to build a community of diverse residential and commercial offerings that would appeal to a wide variety of people in Tallahassee while maintaining a focus on nature and outdoor activities.”

Construction began in the fall of 2000, after delays in which the St. Joe Company worked out details with city and county regulators about what the community would entail.

The first residents moved into their homes in 2002, but the St. Joe Company points out that its work remains far from done.

“As SouthWood continues to develop and evolve, we will respond to market demand while maintaining the lifestyle that the residents of SouthWood have come to enjoy,” Kerrigan wrote in an email to Tallahassee Magazine. “We are currently working with multiple homebuilders as demand for new homes in SouthWood remains high.”

Cultural resources remain. Among them are Apalachee Indian and Mission

↑ Kerry Drew,

Period artifacts, the SouthWood House and the Connie Copeland African-American Cemetery.

The community prioritizes conservation and keeps its parks and trails preserved, maintained and accessible. Native trees and greenery provide settings for biking, bird watching and more.

“I can bike from my house to the Wakulla River and never have to ride on the road,” said resident Mark Zeigler, a professor at Florida State University.

Funding from the Capital Region Community Development District helps maintain four habitat reserves scattered throughout SouthWood’s 3,300 acres.

In addition to the habitat preserves, SouthWood manages two mitigation areas — Shepherd’s Branch and Oak Ridge — with the goal of maintaining native plant and animal species and reducing the risk of wildfires.

The neighborhood touts its livability.

Laura Kalinoski, its Art of Living director, says she emphasizes strong relationships, connections with nature and participation photography by BRUCE PALMER

seen with his wife, Wendy, and their son, William, says he rides his golf cart to the town center for a meal or a workout.

“What’s unique about SouthWood is that it doesn’t matter if you’re my son’s age or in retirement,” Drew said.

“There’s something for everybody.” One resident jokes that it’s a bad week when he has to leave the neighborhood.

in activities. She says some people move to SouthWood for the activities alone.

“My favorite thing about an event is when two people talk and they realize they live two doors down from each other,” Kalinoski said. “They just become great friends, and that’s my entire goal.”

The community offers yoga and art classes and larger social events such as Halloween Fright Night and Winter Fest.

Its Fourth of July celebration includes a parade, live band and fireworks, and it sparks crowds of 6,000 to 8,000 people from all over Tallahassee.

Programs include “SouthWood Gives Back,” in which residents seek ways to unify and to help each other.

Emergency efforts include work with

FEMA and the City of Tallahassee on storm preparations. Participants aim to immediately get on the roads and help neighbors in need.

“When something happens, we all band together,” said Drew, the resident with the golf cart.

At the end of each day, SouthWood buzzes with people walking their dogs, running on the trails or taking their kids to the park.

Residents say they think their community is for anyone.

“There’s just more of a progressive feel there than other places I’ve lived,” said Zeigler, the FSU professor. He says it’s inclusive while “retaining the old Southern charm.” TM

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PROMOTION

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European Influence with Traditional Flair Notice the privacy this French country home boasts as it sits on .73 acres at the third tee box on the impeccable Tom Fazio-designed course at Golden Eagle.

You will feel like you’re at a movie theater as you lounge in one of the two fully equipped home entertainment spaces this home offers. Over 800 square feet of luxurious entertaining space sits under the covered lanai that shields an outdoor kitchen, mounted TVs and ceiling fans.

When the weather changes, take a dip in the pool or stay cozy by the wood-burning fireplace. Whatever your heart desires, this home can provide.

LISTED PRICE: $1,068,850 ADDRESS: 2655 Wharton Circle SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,375 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 4.5 YEAR BUILT: 2005

APPEAL: Feel the essence of Italy with custom-imported Italian marble in the master bedroom and grand arches extending 7 feet. The master suite oasis embraces a sunrise view of the golf course grounds while its occupants can enjoy their coffee at the wet bar next to the impressive walk-in shower with three shower heads, a claw foot tub and private laundry room.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Coldwell Banker Hartung & Noblin, Inc., Bruce Foster and Jason Boone, The Big Bend Group, (850) 294-8640, (850) 545-0186

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PHOTOS BY TILLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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Spectacular Gated Estate Located on Over 5 Sprawling Acres This home exceeds expectations for both entertaining and quality with four levels of extensive craftsmanship. A grand entrance with sweeping staircase leads to the open floor plan with formal living and dining rooms, gourmet kitchen with keeping room and breakfast nook, large family room and office. Custom details and exquisite finishes throughout include soaring ceilings, hardwood flooring, beautiful millwork, plantation shutters and four fireplaces. French doors open to covered porches, a summer kitchen and a sparkling pool/spa. The home contains an elegant master suite with fireplace, sitting room, amazing bath with oversized walk-in shower and laundry/hobby room. Second level includes three additional bedrooms, a rec room with wet bar and a sunroom. A spacious game room, theater and “crow’s nest” lookout complete the upper levels. This home includes a potential fifth bedroom and four-car garage. Private setting is only minutes to I-10 and the Market District. This custom home is one-of-a-kind.

LISTED PRICE: $1,750,000 ADDRESS: 6957 Buck Lake Road SQUARE FOOTAGE: 9,998 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 4 full, 2 half YEAR BUILT: 2009

APPEAL: Private northeast setting is only minutes from town CONTACT INFORMATION: Hettie Spooner, (850) 509-4337 Hettie@HillSpooner.com

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SPONSORED REPORT

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SPONSORED REPORT

Prepare for the Storm

Fielder is here to help when the unexpected happens

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SPONSORED REPORT

T

rees can be one of the greatest risks to your home during hurricanes, but there are several potential issues that you can spot on your own. Let’s take it from the top.

The crown, or branches, of the tree can indicate potential health or root issues that can lead to failure. You should see leaves all the way to the ends of the branches. If the ends of the branches are bare, this indicates decline or a potential root disturbance. Branches should be evenly spaced up and down the trunk of the tree, with the first branch at half the height of the tree. Pine trees can fall during storms because the weight of the crown can make it top-heavy. Long branches that extend well outside the rest of the canopy can also act as lever arms and also cause failure.

The stem of the tree should be straight and uniform in shape. Stems with bends and large flat areas could indicate potential decay or previous failures. Cavities also indicate weak areas where the tree is likely to break.

Mushrooms growing on the stem can be an indicator of less concern than leans that develop suddenly or become more pronounced in a short period of time.

Now that we are down to the bottom of the tree, we need to see the roots. Trees should not look like lollipop sticks stuck in the ground. If no flaring is visible at the base of the tree, this can indicate roots that have been buried and likely will not work as well as they should. Roots that are lifted up can indicate previous failure.

Hurricane season is upon us, so make sure you root out any potential problems with the trees on your property before it is too late. Our priority is to keep everyone in our hometown safe during hurricane season. If you notice any of these issues or have concerns about the trees on your property, let Fielder Tree Service come take a look and see if we can help give you and your family peace of mind.

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2 | TAL L AHAS S E E 1 0 0 CLUB

MEMBERSHIP

Who We Are

“As president of the club, I see how members genuinely like each other and oftentimes become lifelong friends. Being business owners and executive officers, we can relate to each other in regard to the day-to-day needs and challenges of running a small business. Most of our members have many years of business experience and are willing to share their wealth of knowledge. We encourage members to do business with each other.”

PHOTOS BY BRIAN ROWLAND AND COURTESY OF JANICE LOWREY AND JEANNE ALEXANDER

— LARRY GABRIEL FABIANO, Owner of Gabriel’s Tents & More; Tallahassee 100 Club Board President 2019; Member since 2016

“The Tallahassee 100 Club has been very good for my business prior to my retirement last year. During my years as a painting contractor and active club member, I painted 61 houses and buildings owned by other club members.

The referrals I got from the members were very appreciated.

“I am a past president and two-time board member. I now am enjoying retirement and like being known as a ‘Seasoned Citizen at Your Service.’ I truly love this club and would recommend any club member’s business.”

— SID COOPER, Retired; Tallahassee 100 Club Board Member 2018–19; Club Historian; Past President; Member since 1997

“I was introduced to the Tallahassee 100 Club by the late Chris Kalfas and Bruce Simmons, both of whom were a part of the club before my joining.

I am proud to say that I was the first black-owned business to be a part of the Tallahassee 100 Club.

This group has been extremely supportive of my business since my joining in 1995. I have seen growth in my business because of the Tallahassee 100 Club. The advice I have received from some of the deceased members: Judge Hurley Rudd and Dr. Ed Walker have been quite valuable, and we had conversations that I will never forget. The club is full of honest businesses that support each other and make a difference in the community.”

— JANICE LOWERY, Owner of Professional Alterations; Tallahassee 100 Club Past President; Member since 1995

“I was invited to a lunch for the club by Terry Madigan, and he let me know that this was a more selective networking group and the oldest group in town. You must be an owner or executive officer to join this club. I liked the idea that it was all owners and executive officers, not just sales associates. It keeps everyone on the same level and has really built good camaraderie in the group.”

— MATT MILEY, President & CEO of PayOut USA; Tallahassee 100 Club Board Member; Web Committee Chair; Past President; Past Secretary; Member since 2008

“I like that there’s a large diversity of business categories in the club and a wide span of ages and ethnic groups. The club is very well-rounded. Also, with a large membership, we have a mind-boggling total of years that people have been in business.

Members can draw on the vast experience and knowledge of other business owners and executive officers and gain good business insight. This is one of the reasons I believe that 100 Club members tend to maintain their memberships for years and years. The 100 Club is unique in that we are the only local business organization whose membership is solely for business owners and executive officers.

A 100 Club seat can easily remain occupied for 12-to-21 years. The 100 Club category classification seat is an asset. One of our faithful members has held his seat since 1970.”

— JEANNE ALEXANDER, Owner of Advertising Specialties Unlimited; Tallahassee 100 Club Director; Membership Committee Chair 2018–19; Member since 2013 TAL L AHA S S E E 100CLUB. CO M | 3

BY ROCHELLE KOFF

I

n 1961, the average cost of a new house was $12,500, the average income per year was $5,315 and the cost of a gallon of gas was under 30 cents.

The year was memorable in Tallahassee for another reason. A small group of businessmen and professionals decided to work together and promote their fields while helping each other. The result was the birth of the Tallahassee 100 Club.

The club’s first meeting was on Oct. 9, 1961 in the Tallahassee Dining Room at 1630 N. Monroe St., where the Golden Corral is now located.

The club’s stated mission, then and now: Members will “aid and counsel one another with

4 | TAL L AHAS S E E 1 0 0 CLUB

business and professional problems; create and encourage business; and promote and further the mutual interest and welfare of its members.”

From 1961 to today, the club has evolved, but has still maintained the basic founding ideals.

Each member represents a particular trade, business, occupation or profession, and no other member can be in competition “with the main activity” of another member.

“We start our meetings with a Pledge of Allegiance and follow that with a prayer,” said club Historian Sid Cooper.

Members are in a wide variety of fields.

Among them, you’ll find a dentist, plumber,

florist, arborist, massage therapist, website designer, architect and two lawyers (one in criminal defense and the other general practice, so different enough for membership).

“We have many members in the club with extensive business knowledge. That comes in handy because members help other members,” said club President Larry Fabiano, a member for four years. “There’s a lot of camaraderie.”

Fabiano, who owns Gabriel’s Tents & More, said the club currently has 70 members.

All members have to be the owners of their company or an executive representing the business. Annual club dues are $540 each year,

PHOTOS BY BRIAN ROWLAND (GROUP SHOT AND SPEAKER) AND COURTESY OF TALLAHASSEE 100 CLUB (BOTTOM)

Tallahassee 100 Club

HISTORY

and there’s a $60 application fee. Members must be recommended by someone already in the club.

Cooper said there is also an extensive vetting process.

The organization has 11 luncheon meetings and 8 to 10 dinners per year. Members discuss business during their lunch meetings and may make a presentation about their work. At dinner, there’s generally an outside person as a speaker. The bylaws state that speakers may not promote partisan politics or a particular religion.

The club also hosts four “over the top” catered parties that give members, their spouses and guests a chance to socialize, said Cooper, also a board member.

“We have a theme for most of the parties.”

He said the group was originally created in 1961 “It’s good to be after a small group of able to talk to businessmen went to Fort someone in the Lauderdale and came group who has across an organization “they thought would dealt with some be an excellent idea for of the same Tallahassee.” situations. You It’s an endeavor that has had staying power. Cooper soak in what has been in the club for 23 other people are years, and his father was a saying and what member as well. other businesses “When my father joined the club, there in the group are were no minorities in it. doing that might It was a reflection of the benefit your times. But it has evolved business.” from there to being very diverse,” said Cooper a — JEFF BENTON, retired painting contractor Fotia Services, LLC, who owned the business, New Member Expressit Painting Inc., for four decades.

One of those new members is Jeff Benton, who joined the club in 2018.

One of the biggest draws, said Benton, who owns a fire protection equipment company called Fotia Services, is “just being able to talk with other business owners, who are problem solvers.”

“It’s good to be able to talk to someone in the group who has dealt with some of the same situations,” said Benton. “You soak in what other people are saying and what other businesses in the group are doing that might benefit your business.”

Don Pumphrey, a member since the late ’60s, said the club has “definitely helped me in my business and I think it’s helped other members. No question about it. We’ve swapped a lot of coins in that club.”

“It’s nice to have all those club members referring you, and also doing work for the people TAL L AHA S S E E 100CLUB. CO M | 5

HISTORY

6 | TAL L AHAS S E E 1 0 0 CLUB

club, a large span of ages and different ethnic groups,” said Alexander, owner of Advertising Specialties Unlimited.

“We lost two of our oldest club members (who passed away) within the last two years whose ethics and values reflect the qualities that membership and the board look for when vetting prospects. Lynn Wollschlager, owner of Carpet One, was an original member of the club with his father and cousin when it started some 58 years ago. Carolyn Brown was a trailblazer in business, starting Suburban Salon some 60 years ago when women did not typically own businesses!” said Alexander.

“We have several members in the club who, as a family, are carrying on the 100 Club legacy with their family business or businesses of their own — father/ daughter, father/son and sister/brother. We are a tightknit group of business people savoring the common bonds of friendship while genuinely enjoying the company of our fellow members who have become like family and trusted business confidantes,” said Alexander.

“Those relationships are helping the club move into the future,” said Walker.

“I see it growing and growing, and it’s growing in the right direction,” he said. “There are a lot of business clubs out there, but I think this is the best business club in Tallahassee.”

“If somebody has a need for something and they don’t know who to go to, with an email or phone call, you’ll find someone who will steer you in the right direction.”

— JAY WALKER, Jay Walker Enterprises, Inc. Member

PHOTO BY JOHNSTON ROBERTS

in the club,” said Pumphrey, who worked in the Tallahassee Fire Department for 32 years. He’s also a certified arborist who is semi-retired in the tree service business. “Members will go out of their way to help another club member.”

Jay Walker said that philosophy is rooted in the intent of the club founders, which include his late father, Dr. Ed Walker.

“My father told me how valuable it was to be in the club,” said Walker. “He said I needed to join.”

He recalls that his father paid his dues for the first year, which he believes was about $350 in 1991.

“If somebody has a need for something and they don’t know who to go to, with an email or phone call, you’ll find someone who will steer you in the right direction,” said Walker Walker is a chimney sweep who owns the business Jay Walker Enterprises. He made headlines locally when he joined a group of eight chimney sweeps who volunteered to clean the fireplaces and chimneys in the White House and the West Wing. He cleaned 36 fireplaces and chimneys in 2008, 2011 and 2017.

“Being on the roof was amazing,” said Walker.

The varied experience of all the members is one of the big draws of the Tallahassee 100 Club, said Jeanne Alexander, a member since 2013.

“There’s a big diversity of business types in the

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F

rom humble beginnings, the Tallahassee 100 Club has grown to become the premier business club in the Capital City. Each member represents a trade, business, occupation or profession in Tallahassee.

No member may be in competition with the main activity or profession of another member.

The purpose of the Tallahassee 100 Club is to form an association of business and professional persons in the Tallahassee and Leon County area who will aid and counsel one another with business and professional problems; create and encourage business; and promote and further the mutual interest and welfare of its members as follows: Provide a means of disseminating business information of value to its members.

To be a strictly non-political organization and to promote and foster the spirit of fellowship amongst its members and a better understanding of the services the members can and do render.

To aid and assist individually and as a group in solving and discussing business problems and other needs.

To foster camaraderie, trust and knowledge amongst members through regular face-to-face association at business and social gatherings.

8 | TAL L AHAS S E E 1 0 0 CLUB

TIMELINE October 9, 1961 A group of Tallahassee businessmen holds its first meeting at the Tallahassee Dining Room on Thomasville Road (where Golden Coral is now).

November 6, 1961 Club adopts “Tallahassee 100 Club” as its official name.

November 13, 1961 Club votes to limit membership to 100.

1962 At the seventh meeting of the club, John Parker is elected as the Club’s first president (he had served as interim president prior to this meeting). Dick Mitchell is voted vice president, Jim Gill is named secretary and Billy Ketchum serves as treasurer. They were the Club’s first executive committee.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TALLAHASSEE 100 CLUB

How We Began

December 4, 1962 The Club’s first Christmas party is held at the home of dentist and charter member Phil Wollschlager.

1963 Club dues listed at $6 a month. Meals at the meetings cost $3 for a steak and 75 cents per cocktail.

July 27, 1964 Articles of incorporation are adopted.

Charter member Dick Mitchell, attorney and a member of the Florida House of Representatives, draws up the charter and bylaws.

October 5, 1964 Membership welcomes its 40th member.

March 23, 1970

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Membership grows to 58 members.

2016–17 The new updated bylaws were adopted in 2016-2017 under the leadership of our president, Curtis Whigham, who labored over it late into the night during the board meetings for many months to ensure that they were comprehensive and accurate.

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Let Our Family of Pros Treat You with Care!

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White’s Plumbing, Inc. Over 54 years of Service

TALLAHASSEE SMALL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE PROGRAM Let us help you work ON your business!

Applications are open for the Tallahassee Small Business Executive Program (SBEP).

Program participants receive assistance in learning how to think differently, become more efficient and create a practical action plan. The overall goal is to help small business owners work “ON” their business.

The monthly four-hour sessions run for four months. Leaders of businesses who have been operating three years or more and have more than five employees are eligible to apply. There is no cost to participate.

Visit jmi.fsu.edu to apply and/or learn more information about the SBEP program or the Jim Moran Institute.

For questions, contact: Mike Campbell at (850) 644-4414 or mscampbell@jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu

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In an effort to build community and fellowship within the ranks of our Members, the Tallahassee 100 Club holds a mix of retreats and social gatherings that highlight the best of this area’s business owners and executives. This time spent together helps strengthen the bonds of our community and its business owners within our membership. The Tallahassee 100 Club also meets twice a month at the Elks Club on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, first for a luncheon and later for a dinner meeting.

12 | TA L L A HA SS E E 1 0 0 CLUB

PHOTOS BY JOHNSTON ROBERTS AND COURTESY OF TALLAHASSEE 100 CLUB (HAY RIDE, BARN, BEACH GROUP SHOT)

Club Events and Gatherings

EVENTS

TAL L AHAS S E E 100CLUB. CO M | 13

Our Membership INTERESTED IN JOINING? Contact a board member for more information on how to join the Tallahassee 100 Phillip Bacon Earl Bacon Agency Insurance, Casualty Member since 1993 James Balarezo BodyTrac Health & Fitness Health Fitness/Gym Member since 2014 Kim Barlowe Smile In Style Events Photo Booth Rentals Member since 2019 Jeff Benton Fotia Services, LLC Florida Fire Equipment Dealer Member since 2018 R.J. “Rocky” Bevis Bevis Funeral Homes Funerals, Cremations Member since 2011 Harry Bosman The UPS Store 6044 Mailbox, Packaging & Shipping Member since 2013 Neal Bradford Quality Carpet Care Carpet Cleaning Member since 2001 Rusty Bramblett M E Bramblett, Locksmith, LLC Locksmith Member since 2007 Mike Campbell Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Leadership Member since 2019 Mike Chavez Capital City Bank Banking Member since 2018 Jim Clarke Batteries + Bulbs Batteries, Bulbs Etc. Member since 2018 Laura Colovos Mac & More Systems Apple Consulting, Service and Sales Member since 2018

Nancy Cummings Retired Member since 1994 John Curry North Florida Financial Corporation Retirement & Estate Planning Member since 2011 Dr. Allan Dean The Focal Pointe Optometry Member since 2012 James Ryan Fenn, D.C. Fenn Chiropractic Chiropractic Member since 2018 Stephen Fisher Stephen Fisher Landscape, Design, & Consultation Landscape Design Member since 2010 Gary Fogleman Budget Blinds of Tallahassee Window Coverings Member since 2014 Mark Folmar Folmar’s Pawn Shop, Sales & Services Member since 2019 Dr. Rick Hamilton The Focal Pointe Vision Member since 2017 Ricky Harper C12 Group Tallahassee Peer Advisory Groups Member since 2018 Ben Hart W. Ben Hart & Associates Safety Training Consultant Member since 1985 Terri Hartsfield Suburban Salon Cosmetology Member since 2012

14 | TA L L A HA SS E E 1 0 0 CLUB

Dan Hendrickson Capital City Collision Center, Inc. Collision Repair Member since 2019

Mike Mathers Mathers Electric Company, Inc. Electrical Contracting Member since 2012

Tom Horner Servpro of Tallahassee Mold Remediation, Restoration Services Member since 2015

Steve McClelland Edward Jones Investments Investments Member since 2012

Mark Ice Audio Video Connections Home Theater Member since 2017

Annette McGuffey A Country Rose Florist Member since 2018

Jon Jopling Real Talk 93.3 FM Radio Advertising Member since 2018 Earl Kellow Tec Rep Computer Services Computer Repair Member since 2006 Tim Kelly Armor Realty Residential Real Estate Member since 2008 John Kraft Murphy Business Brokers Business Brokerage Member since 2012 Arun Kundra Capitol City Travel Truck Stop/Hotel Member since 2001

Susie Mozolic Bevis Funeral Homes Funerals, Cremations Member since 2018 Tim Nettles Florida Roofing Residential & Commercial Roofing Member since 2011 Calvin Ogburn Retired Member since 1991 Don Pumphrey Bartlett Tree Experts Tree Service Member since 1970 Don Pumphrey Jr. Law Offices of Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense Attorney Member since 2015

Patty Sponholtz Website Diner LLC Website Design Member since 2014 Ted Strauss Florida Fence & Screen Fence & Screen Enclosures Member since 1990 Dr. Frank Swerdzewski Frank Swerdzewski D.D.S. Family Dentistry Member since 2001 Theresa Teeter Massage Therapy by Theresa Teeter Massage Therapy Member since 2012 Sam Waddill Split Pine Technologies Security Integration & Consulting Member since 1991 Jay Walker Jay Walker Enterprises Chimney & Dryer Vent Sales and Service Member since 1991 Bill Wert Orkin Pest Control Pest Control Member since 2008

June Lee Lee’s Liquor & Fine Wine Liquors Member since 2018

Devlin Saley Wolfe & Saley, CPAs Certified Public Accountants Member since 2009

Curtis Whigham Mad Dog Construction General Contractor Member since 2011

Sam Littlefield Gutter Solutions & Waterproofing Gutters Member since 2018

Bruce Screws Bill’s Signs & Service, Inc. Signs Member since 2008

Rodger White White’s Plumbing Plumbing Member since 2011

Al Simpler Simpler Solar Systems Sales Engineer Member since 2016

Larry Wolfe Wolfe & Saley, CPAs Certified Public Accountants Member since 1985

Chirag Shah The Current Agency Branding & Graphic Design Member since 2018

Joe Wynn Wynn & Associates Architecture Member since 2013

Janice Lowery Professional Alterations Tailor Member since 1995 Terry Madigan Madigan Law Firm General Practice, Law Member since 1997

Board Members Larry Fabiano, President Gabriel’s Tents & More Tent Rental & More (850) 296-3849 gabrielstents@gmail.com Member since 2016 Joey English, Vice President, Social Director Forever Spring Plant Rental Plant & Garden Accessories Rentals (850) 228-3123 foreverspring.32312@gmail.com Member since 2016 Debbie Spitler, Secretary American Employment Agency Employment Agency (850) 222-6673 debbie@aeajobs.com Member since 2013 Doug Gove, Treasurer Florida Business Products Copiers, Fax, Printers, Digital Imaging Systems (850) 878-2654 gallahadion72@hotmail.com Member since 1998 Jeanne Alexander, Membership Director Advertising Specialties Unlimited Promotional Products Including Branded Apparel (850) 443-2030 jeanne@adspec-art.com Member since 2013 Sid Cooper, Club Historian Retired (850) 545-3199 expressit.inc@comcast.net Member since 1997 Matt Miley, Website Director Payout USA, Inc. Payroll Services (850) 201-0880 matt@payoutusa.com Member since 2008 Jeremy Parker, Programs Director Parker Services Air Conditioning (850) 222-7722 jparker@pstallahassee.com Member since 2017 David Wollschlager, Past President The Carpet Shop Retail Floor Covering (850) 386-7139 davidw_67@embarqmail.com Member since 1993 Scott Eppes Eppes Decorating Center Retail Paint Center (850) 309-7533 eppesdec1@embarqmail.com Member since 1999 Lonny Mayfield Mayfield Painting Services Painting (850) 591-7307 mayfieldptgsvs@hotmail.com Member since 2017

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100% solid color imprint or imprinted “I am very proud of with a100 clear the Tallahassee Club and background am honored to be a member.”

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Jeanne Alexander, Principal E-Mail: Jeanne@AdSpec-Art.com Phone: 850-443-2030 Since 2004

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Photos for illustrative purposes only. ©2017 Carpet One Floor & Home. All Rights Reserved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Medical Prof iles What is important to you and your family? If you say good health, you’re not alone. In this special section, Tallahassee Magazine fills you in on dedicated health professionals, their practices and their plans for keeping you healthy. Here they discuss their specialized skills, backgrounds and how they can help you with your important health care decisions.

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Medical Profiles

TALLAHASSEE NEUROLOGICAL CLINIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

PAIN MANAGEMENT Chronic pain can be debilitating and we understand how it can impact your daily life. Our Board Certified Pain Management physicians strive to improve and maintain your health with an understanding of any and all conditions you have. We aim to serve you, the patient, in the best possible way. The providers are concerned with a patient’s ability to function and quality of life. Because Drs. Fuhrmeister and Lynch work diligently to find and treat the cause of their patient’s pain, they have established themselves as compassionate, knowledgeable physicians who exceed the standard of care for their patients. As such, they have built a team of reliable and dedicated health care professionals to assist in all aspects of patient care.

Left to right: Joshua Fuhrmeister, MD; Windrik Lynch, MD

Board Certified Pain Management “ Our physicians strive to improve and maintain your health with an understanding of any and all conditions you have.”

2824-1 MAHAN DRIVE | (850) 558-1260 | TNC-NEURO.COM

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SURGICAL PROCEDURES ▪ Epidural steroid injections ▪ Facet joint injections ▪ Medial branch blocks ▪ Radiofrequency ablations ▪ Spinal cord stimulation trial ▪ Peripheral nerve block ▪ Myofascial trigger point injection ▪ Occipital nerve block ▪ Joint injections

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TALLAHASSEE NEUROLOGICAL CLINIC

DR. J. TRUE MARTIN is an adult neurologist and senior partner at the Tallahassee Neurological Clinic. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University Medical School, where he also completed his internship and residency. He was named Chief Resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and completed a neuromuscular fellowship while directing the Muscular Dystrophy Clinic at the Medical Center. Dr. Martin became board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology after setting the national curve on the In-Service Training and Continuing SelfAssessment examination in neurology given by the Board.

In 2003, Dr. Martin also became certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners.

DR. WINSTON R. ORTIZ, adult neurologist, received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and his medical degree from Ponce School of Medicine. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Medical College of Pennsylvania followed by a residency in neurology at the University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Ortiz was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with a permanent board certification.

DR. RICARDO AYALA, pediatric and adult neurologist, received his medical degree from the School of Medicine, San Carlos of Guatemala National University in Central America, followed by his internship and residency in internal medicine at Roosevelt Hospital, University of Guatemala.

Dr. Ayala is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He was recertified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2004. Since joining the staff at Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, Dr. Ayala has been involved in numerous clinical drug studies, as well as clinical treatment of all pediatric and epilepsy patients in this area.

DR. DANY ESTUPINAN is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

He received his medical degree from the University of Florida’s College of Medicine, neurology residency training at the University of Florida, and completed his fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville with subspecialties in palliative medicine and clinical neurophysiology. In September 2018, Dr. Estupinan joined the Tallahassee Neurological Clinic from Cleveland Clinic of Florida, where he served as Chairman of the End of Life Committee. Dr. Estupinan is a Florida native with a Cuban background and is fluent in Spanish and English.

1401 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 600 | (850) 878-8121 | TNC-NEURO.COM

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Medical Profiles

TALLAHASSEE NEUROLOGICAL CLINIC DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY OUR NEUROSURGEONS Our surgeons are highly trained, completing complex neurosurgery residency programs averaging seven years after medical school — typically the longest of any surgical residency.

In addition to being highly skilled, our surgeons are caring and compasionnate, willing to go over all of your options and treat you as a person, not just a patient.

Currently, the TNC neurosurgical team is composed of five neurosurgeons: Dr. Narlin Beaty, Dr. Albert Lee, Dr. Matthew Lawson and Dr. Adam Oliver. All are board certified or board eligible in neurosurgery.

SURGICAL PROCEDURES ▪ Comprehensive Spinal Surgery ▪ Minimally Invasive Surgery ▪ Laminectomy ▪ Discectomy ▪ Spinal Fusion & Reconstruction ▪ Spinal Cord Tumors & Other Lesions ▪ Vascular Malformations ▪ Kyphoplasty ▪ Vertebroplasty

Left to right: Narlin Beaty, MD; Albert Lee, MD; Adam Oliver, MD; Matthew Lawson, MD

WHEN SURGERY IS THE BEST COURSE OF TREATMENT FOR YOUR CONDITION, you can be assured that whenever possible, our neurosurgeons will offer surgical procedures that are minimally invasive, resulting in smaller openings and scarring, shorter recovery times, less operative pain, and shorter hospital stays— with most patients going home the same day.

Our neurosurgeons are advanced specialtycare physicians who have completed lengthy training programs focused on surgery of the back, neck and brain. Among all medical specialties, the field of neurosurgery provides the most comprehensive education and experience in spine care. Although most people think of neurosurgeons as “brain surgeons,” you might be surprised to know a majority of the operations our surgeons perform are spine surgeries.

We are committed to being leaders in new cutting-edge technologies and use the most advanced spine surgery techniques, including

minimally invasive procedures. In addition, each neurosurgeon participates as an investigator in multi-center, national and international clinical trials in an effort to continue to advance the practice of neurosurgery and offer new and innovative therapies that are not offered elsewhere in the area.

Patient satisfaction is paramount to our practice. We aim to educate our patients and families about your condition and course of treatment. Our clinic staff will welcome your questions and concerns, and every effort will be made to ensure your confidence in your neurosurgeon. It is our goal to meet or exceed your expectations. Our outcomes data and patient satisfaction surveys are available on our website.

Our surgeons offer care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

BRAIN SURGERY ▪ Stereotactic Surgery ▪ Brain Tumor Removal ▪ Aneurysm Treatment ▪ Hemorrhage Removal ▪ CSF Shunting Procedures ▪ Vagus Nerve Stimulator ▪ Stealth Technology PERIPHERAL NERVE SURGERY ▪ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ▪ Ulnar Nerve Surgery STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY ▪ Brain Tumor Stereotactic Radiosurgery ▪ Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vascular Malformations ▪ Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia ENDOVASCULAR & CEREBROVASCULAR SURGERY ▪ Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography ▪ Diagnostic Spinal Angiography ▪ Aneurysm Treatment including Coiling & Clipping ▪ AVM Treatment including Embolization & Surgical Resection ▪ Carotid Artery Disease including Carotid Stent Placement & Carotid Endarterectomy ▪ Stroke Intervention & Intracranial Stenosis ▪ Venous Sinus Stenting for IIH

1401 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 300 | (850) 877-5115 | TNC-NEURO.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THOMAS E. OPPENHEIM, DMD Oppenheim Signature Smiles

“WHEN I JOINED THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN 1994, it had become clear to me that the best interests of my patients demanded the expansion of my education far beyond the skills and knowledge that were taught in dental school,” says Thomas E. Oppenheim, DMD, as he reflects on his professional journey over the years.

Today, Dr. Oppenheim is recognized for his exceptional artistic ability to create that perfect “signature smile” for each client.

He is one of only 63 dentists in the world to have achieved Accredited Fellow status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

“Delivering cosmetic and restorative excellence required that I master and maintain proficiency in an entirely new set of artistic and technical skills. That is why I continue to fully engage in every learning challenge the AACD offers, and it is also why I voluntarily tested my skills against the AACD’s most demanding standards.

By passing the rigorous testing required to become an AACD Accredited Fellow, I am demonstrating that I can, and will, consistently deliver no-compromise, beautiful results every time,” he states.

Dr. Oppenheim’s smile designs are known for their strikingly natural appearance and lasting beauty. His work has not only graced the cover of the prestigious Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry an unprecedented eight times, but has also won him Top Honors in AACD International Smile Gallery competitions for 10 consecutive years (including Best of Show in Honolulu).

A writer and frequent lecturer on advanced smile design techniques, Dr. Oppenheim has served on the Accreditation Board of Examiners for the American Academy of

Dr. Oppenheim’s smile designs are known for their strikingly natural appearance and lasting beauty.

“

I can, and will, consistently deliver no-compromise, beautiful results every time.

”

Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and mentored other dentists pursuing accreditation in the AACD. Dr. Oppenheim is an alumnus of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry as well as the Comprehensive Esthetics Restorative Continuums at the College of Dentistry at Baylor University and Louisiana State University. He is also an honorary fellow of

the International Academy of Dental-Facial Esthetics.

“With each new patient, I remind myself that I am only as good as the last smile I created. Our patients choose us because they want the best, and in return for their trust, we promise to do what it takes to provide just that — every time.”

207 E. JACKSON ST. | THOMASVILLE, GA | (229) 226-1631 | SIGNATURESMILES.COM

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Medical Profiles

DR. ROBERT ASHMORE, MD, FACOG WHILE DR. ROBERT ASHMORE recently opened his own gynecology and gynecologic surgery practice, he is no novice.

Dr. Ashmore is a co-founder of North Florida Women’s Care, was instrumental in bringing midwifery to hospital facilities and has been on the forefront of medical and surgical technology. His passion for the industry evolved into the desire to open his own private practice in order to pursue the best possible medicine for his patients.

Dr. Ashmore offers the full spectrum of well-woman care, diagnosing and administering treatment for gynecologic problems in a professional and up-to-date manner. For 39 years, he has cultivated quality relationships resulting in a large and successful practice that ensures patient comfort.

“My goal is to continue to practice medicine at a level of excellence, and to provide my patients with professional, competent and compassionate medical care,” said Ashmore.

It only adds to his positive attributes that he is a Tallahassee native, aiming to improve and benefit the lives of his fellow Tallahasseeans. He graduated from Leon High School and attended Florida State University on a football scholarship. From there, he attended medical school at the University of Florida and completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology who began an obstetrical and gynecology practice in 1980, making himself an expert in the field ever since.

During his leisure time, he values family most.

Dr. Ashmore enjoys spending time with his wife and junior high sweetheart, his three children — who are also doctors — and his grandson. An ideal day would consist of riding his horse in the Rockies of southwestern Colorado.

In all, Dr. Ashmore seeks to provide his patients with the highest quality of care, will continuously learn and grow with his industry and will always care about the well-being of the women within the community he calls home.

goal is to continue to practice medicine at a level of excellence, “My and to provide my patients with professional, competent and compassionate medical care. ”

2770 CAPITAL MEDICAL BLVD., SUITE 100 | (850) 878-0368 | ROBERTASHMOREMD.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES OF NORTH FLORIDA

Dr. Andrew Chon, Dr. Aixa Guzmán, Dr. Walter Colón, Dr. John Dozier, Dr. Joseph Barnett

believe that “ We our outstanding

patient care sets our practice apart.

Our commitment to our patients and their health is the cornerstone of our practice.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE? Periodontal Associates of North Florida is a specialty practice providing care for gum disease and placing dental implants.

We are a detail-oriented practice that aims to create an outstanding experience for patients. Our top priority is the care and comfort of our patients. We are extraordinarily

proud of our team, which is comprised of caring and dedicated professionals who share our mission. Our comprehensive team works to ensure our patients’ surgical and administrative needs are met.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED? In August of 2017, we were able to move to a brand new office location and combine practices with Dr. Dozier and Dr. Barnett.

Since then, we have added two additional periodontists, Dr. Guzmán and Dr. Chon.

All of our periodontists are highly trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants. Through this expansion, we are able to provide maximum care to patients at our new state-of-the-art facility. The new office offers a calm and soothing environment.

HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY? Our practice places enormous

importance in the involvement we have in the local Tallahassee community and beyond. We are proud of our annual Dentistry from the Heart event, which we host every February.

At Dentistry from the Heart, dozens of local dentists, hygienists and volunteers from practices all over the city donate their time and resources to provide free dental care to the Tallahassee community.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY? It is very important for us to have an outstanding team that shares our mission. Together, we desire to serve the public of Tallahassee and surrounding areas with the best periodontal care possible. Our goal is to enhance the quality of people’s lives by improving oral health, preventing loss of teeth when possible and replacing lost teeth when necessary. We focus on advancing dental knowledge through collaboration with our dental colleagues.

2160 CAPITAL CIRCLE NE, SUITE 100 | (850) 562-6111 | TALLAHASSEEPERIO.COM

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Medical Profiles

TALLAHASSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATES DR. MARCI BECK, DR. GLENN BECK, DR. BRIAN BECK, DR. JULIE BAILEY

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We provide cosmetic, general and implant restorative dentistry — including esthetic crowns and bridges, veneers, onlays and smile whitening. Also, tooth-colored fillings, root canals, oral cancer screening and dentures. Implant retained restorations include single-tooth replacement, as well as full-arch tooth replacement with permanent non-removable hybrid restorations.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? By the quality of the relationships we establish with our patients. Patient satisfaction is huge. We work hard to provide the best care possible. We feel successful when the patient has had a pleasant and positive experience.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY? To always have our patient’s best interests in mind and to treat each person with the utmost respect.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED? We utilize a digital scanner to take impressions, which avoids the use of impression materials that can be uncomfortable for some patients. We utilize digital radiography which reduces our patients’ exposure to radiation by as much as 70 percent. We employ intraoral cameras, which allow patients to see inside their own mouths. We provide metal-free all-porcelain veneers and crowns, which are the most esthetic restorations available.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? Our commitment to continuing education for both doctors and staff. Each year, we take hundreds of hours of classes at the Spear Institute, the top-rated dental education center in the U.S. Also, we work with consultants to improve our teamwork, services and efficiency. Because we have four doctors, we can accommodate our patients’ needs and schedules by providing expanded hours and emergency care.

HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY? Every year, we provide the Smiles By Beck Scholarship for dental hygiene and dental assisting students who attend Tallahassee Community College. We support many local fundraising events large or small. We guest lecture at UF, FSU and TCC. The Tallahassee Tennis Challenger Tournament, which benefits the Tallahassee Memorial Neuro Intensive Care Unit, is another event we enjoy supporting. We provide aid to the medical examiner’s office. And of course, volunteering for We Care helps us provide dentistry in our area to low-income people in need.

work hard to provide the best “ We care possible. We feel successful

when the patient has had a pleasant and positive experience.”

2929-B CAPITAL MEDICAL BLVD. | (850) 656-2636 | SMILESBYBECK.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

FLORIDA CANCER SPECIALISTS

SCOTT TETREAULT, MD; VIRALKUMAR BHANDERI, MD; PARESH PATEL, MD

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We offer full medical oncology treatment services for all cancers: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, vaccine therapy, gene therapy, targeted molecular therapy and clinical trials.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? We are “high-tech,” but also “high-touch.”

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? We offer every FDA approved cancer treatment option in both of our Tallahassee cancer centers every day along with cuttingedge clinical trials.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? Every patient is treated like a family member.

HOW HAS YOUR PRACTICE GROWN? Florida Cancer Specialists is the largest medical oncology practice in the United States with over 100 cancer centers in Florida.

WHAT ACCOLADES HAVE YOUR PRACTICE RECEIVED? We received the American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Trials Award for our enrollment of Florida patients in clinical trials of novel cancer therapies. Over half of all new FDA approved cancer drugs were tested in our cancer centers.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR PRACTICE? We will continue to grow to serve the cancer patients of Tallahassee so they can receive the best care in the world right near their homes and loved ones.

Scott Tetreault, MD; Viralkumar Bhanderi, MD; Paresh Patel, MD

physicians live and work “inOurTallahassee.

Local referring physicians can easily consult with them to provide a timely, expert patient diagnosis.”

1600 PHILLIPS ROAD, SUITE 300 | (850) 877-8166 | 2626 CARE DRIVE, SUITE 200 | (850) 219-5830 | FLCANCER.COM

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Medical Profiles

DR. WILLIAM T. BALDOCK CAPITAL PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES, PA

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER YOUR PATIENTS? Our practice offers state-of-the-art periodontal and dental implant treatment. Our procedures include dental implant surgery, laser surgery, scaling and root planning, gingivitis and periodontitis treatment, gingival flap surgery, oral cancer screenings, cosmetic contouring procedures and more. Treatments for our patients also include conscious sedation, anxiety management techniques, dental spa amenities and relaxation therapies.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT CAPITAL PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES? Capital Periodontal Associates is a patient-centered practice. We develop specific periodontal treatment plans that meet the needs of each of our patients.

My staff and I set aside time to listen to our patients’ concerns and provide patient education throughout every step of the treatment process. We are passionate about what we do and enjoy the lifelong relationships that we have established with our patients, the dental community and others in the health care industry.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR PRACTICE? Our team is extremely excited to continue to provide unparalleled periodontal treatment in our expanding health care community. We continue to partner with other dental and medical professionals to provide a comprehensive and systemic approach to periodontal care. My son, Dr. William T. Baldock, Jr., will be joining the practice after he completes his periodontal residency next year. Through this growth, we will maintain our founding principles, that all patients will receive compassionate, expert and individualized care through the most advanced technology and treatment methods.

“

HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE? Capital Periodontal is a team of exceptional professionals, including a registered surgical nurse, dental hygienists, dental assistants and patient care coordinators who place patient care as their utmost priority. Before, during and after a periodontal procedure, I am accessible to my patients. We work together as a team to care for each patient individually. Capital Periodontal also partners with our patients’ restorative dentists and physicians to ensure their excellent oral health.

Dr. Baldock exemplifies exceptional patient care. From my first point of contact to schedule a consultation at Capital Periodontal, I was treated with the utmost kindness, respect and genuine concern. Each staff member, from the front office to the medical staff, took their time with me, addressed any questions or concerns I had and went above and beyond to ensure my level of comfort and understanding. Without reservation, I would recommend CPA to anyone for their periodontal care! — Ms. L.B., Tallahassee, Florida

”

2621 MITCHAM DRIVE, SUITE 101 | (850) 942-8111 | CAPITALPERIO.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM AT TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We provide both hospital-based and ambulatory care for adult patients. Our area of specialty is internal medicine.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? Our main goal is to provide excellent care to patients — both in the hospital and in the clinic.

WHAT IS THE “SECRET” OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS? The secret to our success is we focus on each patient as an individual and customize their care.

L-R: Ingrid Jones-Ince, MD; Raymond J. Shashaty, MD; Susan Manson, MD; Claudia Kroker-Bode, MD; Gregory Todd, MD; Ramiz Kseri, MD

1300 MICCOSUKEE ROAD | (850) 431-7900 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOUTHERN MEDICAL GROUP, PA NORTHEAST

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We provide primary care for adult patients with special emphasis on diagnosis, evaluation and management of both chronic and acute complex conditions of the heart, lungs, intestinal tract, kidneys and endocrine system.

L-R: Camille J. Blake, DO; Ileana Popa, MD; Judith A. Lewis, MD; Farah K. Soliman, MD; Basim Tadros, MD Not pictured: Marlisha Edwards, MD

HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE? Our physicians are board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the American Board of Family Medicine. We offer highly skilled, compassionate care and stateof-the-art diagnostic services. We are

committed to quality patient care by seeking educational opportunities to stay current on the latest drug therapies and diagnostic tools.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We believe in fostering a positive, open relationship with our patients as well as their caregivers to provide optimal care, to instill confidence and to ensure patient satisfaction. We work to maintain a strong network of specialists should our patients need to be referred for further evaluation and believe that communication with the consulting physician and the patient is imperative to seamless, quality care.

NORTHEAST LOCATION 1260 METROPOLITAN BLVD., SUITES 301 & 302 | (850) 216-0100 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — UROLOGY SPECIALISTS CHARLES YOWELL, MD; FRANCISCO CARPIO, MD

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Physician Partners – Urology Specialists provides high-quality urology care for men and women dealing with diseases and conditions of the urinary tract. Common conditions we treat include:

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Bladder Cancer Erectile Dysfunction Hematuria/Blood in Urine Kidney Cancer Kidney Stones Prostate Cancer Prostate Enlargement/BPH Urinary Incontinence Urinary Tract Infection/Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection ▪ Voiding Dysfunction

1633 PHYSICIANS DRIVE | (850) 431-2875 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — CENTER FOR MEDICAL GENETICS & GENOMICS LAURA S. MARTIN, MD, FAAP, FACMG

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We provide medical genetics and genomic services for all ages including cancer genetics.

▪ Clinical genetic consultations typically consist of a medical evaluation, genetic

risk assessment, genetic counseling and education, that together, allow for shared decision making between the Clinical Geneticist and the patient/family.

▪ Clinical biochemical geneticists provide comprehensive diagnosis, life-long management, and genetic counseling services for patients with inborn errors of metabolism, including genetic disorders of intermediary metabolism, lysosomal storage diseases, disorders of energy metabolism and related disorders.

▪ Geneticists, along with a dedicated genetic counselor who specializes in cancer genetics, provide evaluation of personal and family histories for possible hereditary cancer syndromes, including BRCA 1/2, Lynch syndrome as well as other disorders.

With services connected to the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, genetic patients have access to an array of services and powerful treatment options all under one roof.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? Dr. Martin is a founding member of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and is board certified in clinical genetics, clinical biochemical/molecular genetics, and pediatrics.

3333 CAPITAL OAKS DRIVE | (850) 431-4041 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — CENTER FOR MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE WHO ARE YOUR PATIENTS? Expectant mothers whose pregnancies are considered high-risk due to pre-existing conditions, maternal age, multiples or any other complication identified by the patient’s obstetrician.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? Maternal-fetal medicine is a sub-specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. We work with high-risk pregnancies to minimize complications and manage the health of moms and their babies. Our team of physicians is board certified in genetics and offers prenatal genetic testing, diagnosis and counseling.

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? Working closely with our patients allows us to help prepare them and their managing obstetrician for delivery, involve the appropriate specialists, prevent complications and provide the highest level of care for mothers and newborns who need special attention and support.

L-R: Roderick Hume, MD; William Dobak, DO, MBA

HAS YOUR PRACTICE EXPANDED RECENTLY? The field of genetics and prenatal diagnosis is rapidly expanding with new and better tests to identify genetic abnormalities. New technology is now available through our office that allows prenatal diagnosis of some genetic abnormalities in the developing baby using a simple blood sample from the mother.

1401 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 400 | (850) 431-3360 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? The Family Medicine Residency Program offers primary medical care for the entire family with specialty services including maternity care/delivery, gynecological procedures, skin surgery, cardiac stress testing, anticoagulation as well as behavioral and nutritional interventions. The program also provides medical training for physicians who have chosen the specialty of family medicine.

Front row (L-R): Ron Machado, MD; Phillip Treadwell, PharmD; Tanya Evers, MD; Gina Hope, MD; Joseph Mazziotta, MD Back row (L-R): Klive Forde, MD; Ed Forster, MD; Rick Levy, PhD; Donald Zorn, MD; Michael Allison, MD; Julia Weeks, MD; David Paul Robinson, MD; Russell Cole, MD; B. David Robinson, MD

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN PRACTICE IN TALLAHASSEE? We have been providing primary care services in the Big Bend region for over 40 years.

WHAT MAKES YOUR PRACTICE STRATEGY UNIQUE? Being a training site offers many valuable benefits for our patients. Our physicians are accustomed to providing medical care that spans from OB and pediatrics to adult and geriatric medicine. We also treat a large spectrum of care from health maintenance to treating chronic disease. We have extended hours for both weekdays and weekends.

We provide inpatient and outpatient care. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will see our physicians instead of an assigned hospitalist.

Because our physicians are training new physicians, we are up-to-date on the latest medical advances and able to provide a full spectrum of care.

1301 HODGES DRIVE | (850) 431-5430 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SURGICAL ONCOLOGY SPECIALISTS WADE DOUGLAS, MD, FACS

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Services we provide involve surgical treatment of malignancies including:

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Colorectal Skin Stomach Liver

▪ Pancreas ▪ Soft tissue ▪ Head and neck

WHAT ARE YOUR AREAS OF SPECIALTY? Areas of specialty include general surgery, surgical oncology, head and neck surgical oncology.

1775 ONE HEALING PLACE, 1ST FLOOR | (850) 877-5183 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY SPECIALISTS HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY? Physician Partners – Gynecologic Oncology Specialists is the only gynecologic oncology practice in the Big Bend region. With the program based here in Tallahassee, women no longer need to drive hundreds of miles to have treatment for cancers that attack the female reproductive system.

Margarett Conklin Ellison, MD & Amanda Stephens, DO (Not Pictured)

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We specialize in complex pelvic surgery, minimally invasive surgery and chemotherapy for women with gynecologic cancers and pre-cancers including: ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vaginal, vulvar and uterine sarcoma.

1775 ONE HEALING PLACE, 1ST FLOOR | (850) 431-4888 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — CANCER & HEMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? Physician Partners – Cancer & Hematology Specialists is a practice focused on the care of patients with cancer and blood diseases. We offer everything from chemotherapy to support services, including dietary and genetic counseling, patient navigators, support groups and advanced clinical trials.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? Clinical trials are an important piece of the complete care offered at a Cancer Center, as they provide the opportunity for patients to receive new and cutting-edge treatments benefitting all by finding better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Now with the ability to offer international and national clinical trials, our current and future patients will benefit from this research here in their own community.

L-R: Jeannine Silberman, MD; Karen Russell, MD, FACP; Tim Broeseker, MD; Amit Jain, MD, MPH; Jayan Nair, MD; Jorge Perez De Armas, MD; Janice Lawson, MD; Mitchell Peabody, DO

1775 ONE HEALING PLACE, 2ND FLOOR | (850) 431-5360 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — BRADFORDVILLE WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We provide comprehensive family medicine in a warm, friendly environment.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? As the population of Tallahassee has grown, we are excited to provide care on the Northeast side of town. We feel it is important to provide a convenient and accessible option to this area of our community.

L-R: Rebecca Easterling, MD; Ashley Janney, MD

6721 THOMASVILLE ROAD, SUITE 4 | (850) 431-9000 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SURGICAL SPECIALISTS WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? General, laparoscopic, minimally invasive, endocrine and bariatric surgery.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS IN YOUR PROFESSION? When we have positive outcomes that allow our patients to live healthier lives and have improved quality of life, we know we have been successful.

WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? We are dedicated to the health and well-being of our patients. It is our goal to establish mutual respect with our patients through communication and education for the best possible surgical outcomes. We believe this is why we have treated generations of families in our region.

Alexander Ramirez, MD, FACS

Luke Watkins, MD, MBA

1401 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 100 | (850) 877-5183 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOUTHERN MEDICAL GROUP, PA CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? We provide the most comprehensive cardiovascular care in the Big Bend region. With an expert team of cardiologists and surgeons, we offer a complete spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services, as well as procedures available only at select centers throughout the country.

We work with patients to treat, manage and prevent cardiovascular disease through medical management, interventional procedures and surgery.

Front to Back: Rami Khoury-Abdulla, MD; Marilyn M. Cox, MD; Akash Ghai, MD; Frank E. Gredler, MD; William C. Dixon, MD; David W. Smith, MD; Ernesto Umana, MD; Gian Carlo Giove, MD; C. Patrick Murrah, MD; Gregory R. Hartlage, MD; Pablo RengifoMoreno, MD; David Saint, MD; Venkata Bavikati, MD; J. Galt Allee, MD Not Pictured: John N. Katopodis, MD; Farhat S. Khairallah, MD; Thomas E. Noel, MD; Gadi Silberman, MD; Edward Ferguson, MD; Julian Hurt, MD; Juan Gallegos, MD; Hussein Rayatzadeh, MD

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? Our team of physicians and surgeons are dedicated to providing the highest level of comprehensive cardiovascular care close to home, while focusing on communication with our patients. We believe in building a strong relationship with each of our patients so we can develop an individual care plan tailored to their specific needs.

1300 MEDICAL DRIVE & 1405 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 5000 | (850) 216-0100 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — RHEUMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS LESS SHRESTHA, MD, FACP WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? At TMH Physician Partners – Rheumatology Specialists, we provide treatment including steroid and hyaluronic acid injections for various arthritic and autoimmune conditions.

These conditions can include: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, pseudogout, lupus, vasculitides, myopathies, systemic sclerosis, sjogren’s syndrome, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and sarcoidosis.

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? We offer a patient-centered atmosphere with shared decision making, where the patient’s satisfaction and quality medical care is the goal of our practice.

3900 ESPLANADE WAY | (850) 431-3867 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — RADIATION ONCOLOGY SPECIALISTS WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? Our mission is to meet the full cancer treatment needs of our community by providing comprehensive care close to home. Through the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, we have a diverse, multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, social workers, patient navigators, registered dietitians and a certified genetic counselor.

We have this entire team in one location for patient convenience.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR PRACTICE? The future of the practice is exciting. We offer a full complement of radiation treatment options to include stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, along with brachytherapy and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? We measure success with every positive patient and family experience.

L-R: Philip Sharp, MD; Ovidiu Marina, MD; Raj Bendre, MD, Medical Director

1775 ONE HEALING PLACE, 1ST FLOOR | (850) 431-5255 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SURGICAL SPECIALISTS SERVICES BY SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF TALLAHASSEE WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? A broad range of surgical options for patients of all ages. We provide minimally invasive, robotic and laparoscopic surgery for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, malignancies (cancer), breast surgery, trauma, hernia, reflux, weight loss and endocrine surgery (thyroid and parathyroid).

Brett Howard, MD; Jeffrey Crooms, MD, FACS

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? Providing exceptional, advanced and quality surgical care 24 hours a day.

1405 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE 4400 | (850) 877-6212 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SURGICAL SPECIALISTS WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We perform a wide range of surgical procedures, most of which are minimally invasive. We commonly perform gastrointestinal procedures such as appendectomies, cholecystectomies, hernias and colon resections. We also perform breast surgery for both benign and malignant diseases. As part of the trauma service, we also care for patients who have significant injuries due to accidental or traumatic causes.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? It is our goal to provide a successful, safe operation with positive outcomes for each and every patient.

L–R: Tim F. Ruark, Jr., MD, FACS; Shelby Blank, MD, MS; Eliot B. Sieloff, MD, FACS

1401 CENTERVILLE ROAD, SUITE G02 | (850) 431-2100 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL — METABOLIC HEALTH CENTER WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? TMH Physician Partners – Metabolic Health Center provides individualized, team-based care for people with chronic conditions under one roof. This team is made up of a unique partnership between medical specialists, registered dietitians, diabetes educators and behaviorists. Our services include medical management of obesity, lipid disorders, endocrine disorders, diabetes education, nutrition counseling and research.

WHAT ARE YOUR AREAS OF SPECIALTY? Metabolic disorders including, but not limited to, diabetes, thyroid and other endocrine disorders, obesity and lipid disorders. Physicians seeing patients with these diagnoses are board-certified and/or diplomats of their associated specialty. Diabetes education is provided by the certified diabetes educators of our American Diabetes Association recognized program. Ongoing research trials are currently focused around diabetes and endocrine disorders.

L-R: Sudha Ravilla, MD; Antoni Kafrouni, MD; Greg Laffitte, MPA-C; Kathleen Wilson, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, FAANP; Terry Sherraden, MD; Jayne Stewart, APRN; Mohamad Sirri Tarazi, MD; Lance Freeman, MD; Larry Deeb, MD Not pictured: J. Orson Smith, MD; Kelley Lang, MD; Kenyon McCune, APRN

HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY? TMH Physician Partners – Metabolic Health Center fosters a team approach to care. Our quality services assist patients, and their families, with managing their chronic conditions and achieving and maintaining healthier lifestyles. We also provide leadership to other individuals and organizations in our community who seek to provide care for people with chronic diseases.

2633 CENTENNIAL BLVD., SUITE 100 | (850) 431-5404 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS —

SOUTHWOOD MATTHEW STANDRIDGE, MD AND DANIEL BERNABE, MD

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Primary care for all ages including infants, children, adults and seniors. We provide comprehensive care for illnesses in addition to physical exams, sports physicals, immunizations, minor surgical procedures, comprehensive diagnostic X-ray services, routine screenings, disease management and patient education.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY? We approach healthcare not simply as the treatment of a particular illness, but with a focus on prevention, health education and the well-being of the family as a whole.

3900 ESPLANADE WAY | (850) 431-3867 | TMHPHYSICIANPARTNERS.COM

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TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOUTHERN MEDICAL GROUP, PA INTERNAL MEDICINE AND FAMILY MEDICINE

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? Our internal medicine specialists provide primary care for adults with a special emphasis on diagnosis, evaluation and medical care in a broad area including diseases of the heart, lungs, intestinal tract and kidneys.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE? Our physicians are board certified and offer highly skilled, compassionate care and state-of-the-art diagnostic services. We are committed to quality patient care by seeking educational opportunities to stay current on the latest drug therapies and diagnostic tools.

L-R: Narayanan Krishnamoorthy, MD; Eric S. Bouchard, MD; Satish C. Mital, MD; Marlisha Edwards, MD; Robert D. Rowland, MD; Michael W. Forsthoefel, MD

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We believe in fostering a positive, open relationship with our patients as well as their caregivers to provide optimal care, to instill confidence and to ensure patient satisfaction. We work to maintain a strong network of specialists should our patients need to be referred for further evaluation and believe that communication with the consulting physician and the patient is imperative to seamless, quality care.

1300 MEDICAL DRIVE | (850) 216-0100 | SOUTHERN-MED.COM

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — PULMONARY, CRITICAL CARE & SLEEP SPECIALISTS WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We are the Florida capital’s choice for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders and conditions. We use the most advanced tools for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of disorders.

Back row L-R: F. Ray Dolly, MD; Clifton Bailey, MD; Alberto Fernandez, MD; Carlos Campo, MD; Benjamin Shivar, PA; Allen Smith; PA; John Thabes, MD Front row L-R: Charmaine Gilmore, ARNP; Meghan Bassett, ARNP; David Huang, MD; Joyce Dwyer, ARNP; Fran Bridges, ARNP; Muhanad Hasan, MD; Melanie Woods, ARNP Not Pictured: Anthony Otekeiwebia, MD; Andrea Venturini, MD; Cybelle Pfeifer, MD; Amara Emenike, MD; Gary Johnston, ARNP; Kathleen Bugayong ARNP; Janine Jones, ARNP

DISORDERS WE TREAT: ▪ Asthma ▪ Bronchitis ▪C hronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ▪ Emphysema ▪ Lung Cancer ▪ Pneumonia ▪ Pulmonary Fibrosis ▪ Sarcoidosis ▪ Sleep Disorders

1607 SAINT JAMES COURT, SUITE 2 | (850) 878-8714 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

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TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES WE OFFER: ▪ Chest X-rays ▪ Critical Care Medicine ▪ High Altitude Simulation Testing and Evaluations ▪ Home Sleep Testing ▪ Oxygen Saturation Testing ▪ Pulmonary Function Testing ▪ Six Minute Exercise Evaluations More intensive or invasive procedures such as interventional bronchoscopy, navigational bronchoscopy and endo-bronchial ultrasound for diagnosing lung cancer are performed in the state-of-the-art facilities at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TMH PHYSICIAN PARTNERS — SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOUTHERN MEDICAL GROUP, PA HEART FAILURE

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CLINIC Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is home to one of the region’s only Heart Failure Clinic, directed by Heart Failure Specialist, Gian-Carlo Giove, MD. The Heart Failure Clinic is designed to transition heart failure patients from the hospital to home by providing the tools needed to manage their condition on a daily basis and improve long-term health.

WHAT CAN PATIENTS EXPECT DURING A VISIT? Heart Failure Clinic follow-up appointments are usually scheduled within seven days of discharge from the hospital, to ensure heart failure patients are continuing to progress upwards on the path of heart healing success. We provide comprehensive care that includes nutrition counseling, medical evaluations, lab work to check on kidneys and electrolytes, as well as education to help patients manage and monitor their condition.

Gian-Carlo Giove, MD

1609 PHYSICIANS DRIVE | (850) 431-4243 | PHYSICIANPARTNERS.ORG

WALTON & CARDMAN DENTISTRY JAMES WALTON, III, DDS & DAVID W. CARDMAN, DMD

WALTON AND CARDMAN DESTISTRY, guarantees that visitors will experience more than just the typical dental practice when they visit.

Each patient’s comfort and confidence comes first when matters of dentistry are concerned.

Their mission is to provide the highest quality of dentistry and patient care available.

The staff maintains the highest level of accreditation and education in order to stay in tune with the latest trends in dentistry. They offer a full range of treatment options that can be personalized to meet your unique needs and expectations. Their services include preventative care, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, teeth whitening, general dentistry and more.

1280 TIMBERLANE ROAD | (850) 893-2136 | DRSWALTONANDCARDMAN.COM

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EYE ASSOCIATES OF TALLAHASSEE PAUL HARMAN, OD

WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME Dr. Paul Harman to Eye Associates. He has been in Tallahassee for over 20 years and has joined our Florida practice in Quincy and Perry. Dr. Paul Harman was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.

He is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, the Florida Optometric Association and the Northwest Florida Optometric Society. His special interests are primary eye care, contact lenses, anterior segment disease and education.

Dr. Harman enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and he takes mission trips to the Brazilian Amazon every year.

23186 BLUE STAR HIGHWAY, QUINCY | 333 N. BYRON BUTLER PARKWAY, PERRY | 2020 FLEISCHMANN ROAD, TALLAHASSEE (850) 878-6161 | EYEASSOCIATESOFTALLAHASSEE.COM

Work in Healthcare?

You can Join!

Rose has been growing her garden for over thirty years. The best part of my day is hearing all of Rose’s memories rooted in her backyard. The slam of the garden gate reminds her of her kids running home from school. As a Home Instead CAREGiver, I can help Rose keep hearing that gate slam shut, because that is home.

– Gloria L. Rose’s CAREGiver

YOUR Healthcare Credit Union TMH Federal Credit Union

(850) 402-5301 | www.TMHFCU.org Membership Eligible to All Healthcare Employees in Leon and Surrounding Counties. Your savings federally insure to at least $250,000 and backed by full faith and credit of the United States Government, National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency. We do Business in Accordance with the Federal Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

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The best home to be in is your own.

Home Instead offers personalized in-home services.

Learn more at HomeInsteadTally.com or call 850.297.1897.

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | HOSPICE SUPPORT | MEALS AND NUTRITION Each Home Instead Senior Care Franchise is independently owned and operated. © 2019 Home Instead, Inc. HHA#299992624

not actual patients

BEAUTY IN CONFIDENCE Southeastern Plastic Surgery, P.A. is a trusted destination for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.

Discover the beauty of a strong, positive self-image with the help of our board-certified plastic surgeons.

With unique complementary expertise, board-certified physicians Ben J. Kirbo, M.D., Laurence Z. Rosenberg, M.D. and Chris DeRosier, M.D. are compassionate and committed to providing outstanding patient care. They stay current with technological advancements that enhance your experience for exceptional and natural results.

Services include:

~ ~ ~ ~

Breast Enhancement Facelift Liposuction Hair Restoration

~ ~ ~ ~

Body Contouring Tummy Tuck Nasal Reshaping Chemical Peels

Visit www.se-plasticsurgery.com for specials, videos, to see our before/after photos and for more information. Call 850.219.2000 today for a consultation.

Ben J. Kirbo, M.D. ~ Laurence Z. Rosenberg, M.D. ~ Chris DeRosier, M.D. CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

850.219.2000

2030 Fleischmann Rd. ~ Tallahassee, FL

www.se-plasticsurgery.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

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“

I feel confident when I have a pretty smile, and I know I have healthy teeth.

Dana Brooks Cooper, Shareholder at Barrett, Fasig & Brooks

For Dana’s full story please visit DRRAINEY.COM/HEALTH

850.385.3700 | 221 E. 7TH AVE | DRRAINEY.COM

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PROMOTION

FALL EVENTS ​From festivals and tours to sports and the arts, ​the event and entertainment choices are endless.

For more events in the 850 area, visit 850Tix.com.

13

SEPT

TALLAHASSEE

Purple Willie Jam V

Fifth-annual evening of great live local music raising funds for the Tallahassee Walk to End Alzheimer’s and The Alzheimer’s Association. This year’s entertainment will feature Hot Tamale, Rags & Tinder, The Fried Turkeys and The Jerry Thigpen Trio.

19

MIRAMAR BEACH

2019 Best of the Emerald Coast

Join us for an evening of celebration at Grand Boulevard Sandestin as we showcase the 2019 winners of the “Best of the Emerald Coast.” Our 20th annual event will be a night of food, fashion and fun as we sample from the best restaurants, shopping and businesses on the Emerald Coast. Enjoy an evening of community, and experience the unique attributes that made this year’s winners stand out among the crowd.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

OCT

05 OCT

PENSACOLA

2019 Northwest Florida Heart Walk

The 2019 Northwest Florida Heart Walk is a free community event focused on improving the cardiovascular health of Pensacola and surrounding areas. Join us at Seville Square and register at nwflheartwalk.org.

02 NOV

MIRAMAR BEACH

The Market Shops Fifth Annual Bloody Mary Festival

The Market Shops is set to host its fifth annual Bloody Mary Festival benefiting Habitat for Humanity– Walton County. The event will feature unlimited tastes of the Emerald Coast’s most creative and innovative bloody marys made with Cathead Vodka and served by the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast.

LOCAL TICKETS. ONE PLACE. Get tickets to these events now at 850Tix.com.

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NOVEMBER 6

Best of Tallahassee The 21st annual Best of Tallahassee event will celebrate the community’s best of the best at the The Champions Club. Come enjoy decadent fare, specialty cocktails, live music by Top Shelf Band and more as we honor all that makes Tallahassee our favorite place to call home.

The winning business in each category will be announced live throughout the evening.

Visit 850tix.com/events/best-of-tallahassee for more information and to purchase tickets.

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calendar

SEPT/OCT 2019 For more events in Tallahassee, visit TallahasseeMagazine.com. compiled by JAVIS OGDEN and REBECCA PADGETT

OCTOBER 10

ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DINNER (HOLOCAUST EDUCATION RESOURCE COUNCIL)

→ Musicologist James A. Grymes will discuss his

book, “Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour.” An inspiring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, “Violins of Hope” tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Israeli luthier Amnon Weinstein is dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life.

OCTOBER 19

PHOTOS BY LAWRENCE DAVIDSON (BEST OF TALLAHASSEE) AND DIEDRA LAIRD (HOLOCAUST EDUCATION RESOURCE COUNCIL) AND COURTESY OF TMH FOUNDATION (CARDS FOR A CURE), 850 MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (ECTC) AND OPENING NIGHTS

CARDS FOR A CURE OCTOBER 3

Opening Nights | Hiplet Ballerinas

→ The 14th Annual Cards for a Cure, in honor of Marsha Smith Hill, will be held at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center from 7–11 p.m. This “Pink Tie” event benefits the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, its patients and programs. Each year, Cards for a Cure honors a woman in the community who has displayed valor, vigor and dignity in confronting the challenges of breast cancer. This year’s honoree, Marsha Smith Hill, is no exception.

For more information and to purchase sponsorships or tickets, contact JoAnne Adams at the TMH Foundation at (850) 431-5931 or visit TMH.org/CardsForACure.

→ Hiplet fuses classical pointe technique

with African, Latin, hip-hop and urban dance styles that are rooted in communities of color. By mixing ballet with current popular songs familiar to audiences who don’t normally attend ballet, Hiplet is making ballet accessible to all. Performances may incorporate the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, arabesques and beatboxing or even tango en pointe — all while showcasing Hiplet’s trademark sass, hip movements and struts to popular music, such as Black Violin or Beyoncé.

Tickets and additional show information available at openingnights.fsu.edu/events/hiplet.

REGIONAL SEPTEMBER 6–OCTOBER 6

THE FANTASTICKS | EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY

→ “The Fantasticks” is the longest-running musical in the world

— and with good reason. At the heart of its breathtaking poetry is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. “The Fantasticks” is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use its imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic.

Tickets and additional show information available at EmeraldCoastTheatre.org/on-stage.

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SEPT/OCT 2019

REGIONAL SEPTEMBER 28

EGGS ON THE BEACH

→ The sixth annual Big Green Egg Cooking Competition will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, as competitors serve up “eggstraordinary” fare prepared on Big Green Egg smokers/grills. Cook teams will be smoking and grilling their favorite dishes while tasters vote for their favorites.

Attendees can taste samples from 30 cook teams, enjoy live music and the ENCO Sports Zone, take part in the Knob Creek craft cocktail tasting seminar, enter a charity drawing and more.

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GFWC Woman’s Club of Tallahassee Nestled among the oak trees at the entrance to Los Robles is a top venue for parties and events. Plan ahead and save on your next celebration!

Proceeds benefit the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought.

REGIONAL

OCTOBER 11-12

Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival → Bring together the No. 1 resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast, beautiful October weather and a festive beer tasting, and you have a winning combination for fun in the sun at the Baytowne Beer Festival. Known as the “Best Beer Fest on the Coast,” this popular event features more than 200 craft beers, on-site craft brewers, samplings, live music and more at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

REGIONAL OCTOBER 24-26

Harvest Wine & Food Festival

For more information call

(850) 224-0825 or visit our website

gfwcwomanscluboftallahassee.org

→ One of the premier fall wine events in the Southeast, the Harvest Wine & Food Festival showcases over 400 wines paired with food stations designed to highlight the best in Gulf Coast fare. Produced by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, the festival provides attendees the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections while enjoying the iconic beach town of WaterColor.

Each event during the three-day festival is tailored to fit the different tastes and preferences of wine and food aficionados. Enjoy a special event each day, including Celebrity Winemaker Dinners on Oct. 24, Al Fresco Reserve Tasting on Oct. 25, the Grand Tasting on Oct. 26 — plus a silent auction spanning all three days.

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BLUEBIRD RUN SEPT. 2 NAMI Tallahassee’s annual Bluebird Run & Walk for Brookie B includes a 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun run and walk held at J.R. Alford Greenway. The event helps to raise awareness for suicide prevention and postvention. bluebirdrun.com

JJ GREY & MOFRO SEPT. 6 American Southern soul rock band and Jacksonville natives JJ Grey & Mofro will perform at the Capital City Amphitheater.

Prepare your soul for bone deep grooves and blue-collar spirit.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DESTIN CHARITY WINE AUCTION (HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL), BAY BREEZE PATIO (EGGS ON THE BEACH) AND SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (BAYTOWNE WHARF BEER FESTIVAL)

capitalcityamphitheater.com

DR. GLENN BASS GOLF TOURNAMENT SEPT. 9 This event, hosted by Big Bend Hospice at Golden Eagle Golf & Country Club, is the perfect excuse to golf all day for a great cause. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit Big Bend Hospice’s unfunded programs.

This year’s tournament includes a morning and an afternoon competition.

ST. PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES SEPT. 16 From opening for the Rolling Stones to performing on the Ryman Auditorium stage, St. Paul and the Broken Bones will delight Tallahassee at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

These talented musicians put on an unforgettable show with an eclectic mix of rock and soul. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/saint-pauland-the-broken-bones

DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARDS SEPT. 19 Benefitting the Youth Leadership Tallahassee program, the Distinguished Leadership Awards salute the best in business, professional and community leadership. leadershiptallahassee.com

A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING SEPT. 19-29 Theatre Tallahassee invites to the stage two very different neighbors that become unexpected friends and allies in this slice-of-life comedy.

bigbendhospice.org/donate/bass-golftournament

tallahasseearts.org/event/a-couplawhite-chicks-sitting-around-talking

2ND ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

BACH PARLEY SEPTEMBER CONCERT

SEPT. 13-15

The Tallahassee Bach Parley performs Baroque music using period instruments.

The Bach Parley is made up of experienced musicians who are trained in historically informed performance, mainly local professional performers and teachers, and FSU faculty and students.

This is an event that brings the islands and its culture to you through food, vendors, parades, pageants, live performances and more. tallahasseearts.org/event/the-2ndannual-tallahassee-caribbean-carnival

ST. JUDE WALK/ RUN TO END CHILDHOOD CANCER SEPT. 14 In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Tallahassee will host a 5K to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ensuring that families never receive bills for medical care. Activities and live entertainment will be included. fundraising.stjude.org

SEPT. 22

tallahasseearts.org/event/bach-parleyseptember-concert

SINATRA WITH MATT DUSK SEPT. 23 At the Opperman Music Hall, take a journey with awardwinning, multi-platinum-selling crooner Matt Dusk as he whisks you away to Las Vegas in 1966 where he pays homage to his hero, Frank Sinatra. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/matt-dusk

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ALABAMA: 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OCT. 10 Alabama introduced rock-style guitars, lights, pyrotechnics and sounds to the country audience and has inspired many of today’s brightest country stars. Celebrate 50 years of Alabama on their 50th Anniversary Tour coming to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. tuckerciviccenter.com/ events/detail/alabama-50thanniversary-tour

HIPLET BALLERINAS OCT. 3 Hiplet fuses classical pointe technique with African, Latin, hip-hop and urban dance styles rooted in communities of color. Performances may incorporate the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, arabesques and beat-boxing or even tango en pointe, all while showcasing Hiplet’s trademark sass, hip movements and struts to popular music such as Black Violin or Beyoncé. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/hiplet

WISH UPON A STAR GALA OCT. 4 Join The Children’s Home Society of Florida under

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the oaks at Goodwood Museum & Gardens for the 9th annual Wish Upon a Star featuring live music, custom cuisine stations from Tallahassee’s top restaurants and silent and live auctions.

Wish Upon a Star, a Night in Tulum, will raise funds to support Children’s Home Society of Florida and the services and solutions provided in the Tallahassee area and throughout our state.

SUWANNEE ROOTS FESTIVAL

chsfl.org/events/wish-upon-a-star

CHICAGO WITH FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE

FUZZY PINEAPPLE OCT. 5 Crafters unite at Fuzzy Pineapple’s Craft and Art Festival. This festival will feature and showcase over 100 diverse and independent artists. There will be entertainment, interactive art, crafting and opportunities to buy from and connect with artists.

Children and pets are welcome. thefuzzypineapple.com/tfpfest

SLOCAN RAMBLERS OCT. 7 The Slocan Ramblers, Canada’s bluegrass band to watch, are coming to Goodwood Museum and Gardens. The Slocan’s performances showcase their unique blend of bluegrass, old-time and folk with deep songwriting, lightning-fast instrumentals and sawdustthick vocals. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ slocan-ramblers

SHANA TUCKER OCT. 10 With a deep respect for lyrical storytelling, cellist/singer-songwriter Shana Tucker delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of ChamberSoul. Shana’s melodies weave strong hints of jazz, classical, soulful folk, acoustic pop and a touch of R&B into a distinctive rhythmic tapestry. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/shana-tucker

OCT. 10-13 Enjoy four days in a camper or RV with family or friends and revel in the spirit of Suwannee. This festival features live bluegrass and folk music and hosts music workshops, dancing, crafting and food. suwanneerootsrevival.com

OCT. 11-27 The classic cabaret of the Roaring ’20s era in Chicago features jazz, bootleggers and celebrity criminals. With one show-stopping song after another, it would be a crime to miss this musical spectacular. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/chicago

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

frenchcountryfleamarket.com

designed for children of all ages and abilities. The Magic of Kevin Spencer features the extraordinary magician in a fun-filled show that combines storytelling, stage magic and audience participation.

TALLAHASSEE WALK ALS

openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ kevin-spencer

OCT. 19 Come together with family and friends to walk for ALS. The fundraising through the walk goes toward treatment and ultimately a cure for ALS. The Walk to Defeat ALS is the ALS Association’s largest annual event, and the funds that are raised go to ALS research, care service programs and nationwide advocacy campaigns.

NORTH FLORIDA FAIR NOV. 7-17 Enjoy funnel cakes, fair rides and entertainment galore at the area’s largest and best agricultural fair. northfloridafair.com

alsa.org

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS OCT. 24-NOV. 10

JULIE FOWLIS OCT. 16 With roots firmly in the Scottish Gaelic culture and an exquisite voice, Julie Fowlis is able to bring folk music out of the past and into something contemporary, dynamic and irresistible. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ julie-fowlis

A locked room, a dead passenger, multiple suspects ... Agatha Christie’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot, investigates one of the most complicated cases of his career on Theatre Tallahassee’s stage. tallahasseearts.org/event/agathachristies-murder-on-the-orientexpress

For more information, visit lighthousebigbend.org/59-dining-inthe-dark.

OCT. 26

Do as the Germans would by drinking German beer and eating German food at the Elder Care Services annual Oktoberfest event. This event benefits Elder Care Services, and auction items in the silent auction help generate money for in-home compassionate care and programs such as Meals on Wheels.

St. Marks invites you to come celebrate the opening of stone crab season. Enjoy local musicians and artisans, a parade, various children’s activities and lots of stone crab. All proceeds are given as charitable donations to St. Marks and the surrounding area.

OCT. 18-19 Sweet South Cottage hosts this treasure trove, a flea

JAN. 25

Join us on Halloween for a relaxed, sensory-friendly evening of family festivities

OCT. 18

FRENCH COUNTRY FLEA MARKET

DINING IN THE DARK

OCT. 31

ST. MARKS STONE CRAB FESTIVAL

eldercarebigbend.org/oktoberfest

SAVE THE DATE

Lighthouse of the Big Bend will be at the University Center Club to hold Dining in the Dark, its annual fundraising event where nearly 300 guests experience food, drinks and conversation as they may have not before — without sight. For a short period of time, guests are given perspective into what LBB clients experience on a daily basis, life without sight. The three-course meal is served by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team using their night vision goggles — and the menu is secret. LBB is the sole agency in the Big Bend region serving those with vision loss.

OKTOBERFEST

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

September–October 2019

market offering a variety of one-of-a-kind finds from purveyors of antiques, vintage home décor, heirloom goods, shabby chic furniture, handmade art, jewelry and more.

stmarksstonecrabfest.com

THE MAGIC OF KEVIN SPENCER

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

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THEALABAMABAND.COM AND LIGHTHOUSE OF THE BIG BEND

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FL #CAC1816408 September–October 2019

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SOCIAL STUDIES Big Bend Hospice Spring Fling

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MAY 16 Big Bend Hospice (BBH) celebrated its 12th annual Spring Fling in the lovely gardens of Tallahassee Nurseries. “Spring Fling: Under a Symphonic Moon” was a magical evening where guests enjoyed live music, food and spirits from over 60 local restaurants and caterers. Big Bend Hospice is honored to serve and is thankful for the continued support from a community that helps fulfill our mission to provide hope for patients and families facing serious illness and grief.

PHOTOS BY SHEMS HAMILTON

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1 2019 Spring Fling Committee (L-R, First Row) Monique Wood, Judy Rubin, Allene Roberts, Marsha Cantrell (L-R, Second Row) Laura Jernigan, Barbara Lauer, Gwynn Virostek, Leigh Ann Greenberg, Dena Strickland, Susan Turner (Chair) (L-R, Last Row) Marianne Bryant, Marti Billings, Beth Desloge, Lyn Baggett, Becky McAlpine, Judy Lamb 2 Tillie Allen 3 Gentle and Dr. Alma Littles with Ron Tate 4 Jim and Martha Beasley with Kay and Scott Dick 5 Theo and Emily Proctor with Nick Sutton 6 Michael Conn, Nick Harris and Gina Conn 7 Cricket Mannheimer and Paul Brock 8 Owner Mark Suber and the Black Fig catering staff

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CO O K I N ’

U P

S AV I N G S

Rediscover outdoor cooking with a natural gas grill or purchase an Energy STAR appliance, such as a pool pump, and get up to $300 in rebates. Offset your summer air conditioning cost by enhancing your outdoor living.

To learn more about rebates and other ways to save energy, water and money, visit Talgov.com/YOU or call 891-4968.

@COTNEWS

GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM Dr. Lyndsey Steele, D.V.M. Veterinarian at NFAH

NEW LOCATION WORLD CLASS FEATURES & SERVICE

1894 THOMASVILLE ROAD CAPITAL PLAZA

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REFINERYBARRE.COM | 850-999-8182

Meet Dr. Lyndsey Steele, a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College in 2005. We were pleased she could join the team at NFAH in 2014 when her husband David took a faculty position in the College of Business at Florida State University. Their move across country was HUGE, and we are thankful that she has taken a permanent associate veterinarian position here.

Dr. Steele worked at a busy mixed animal practice in Southern Ontario for seven years before moving to Tallahassee. She has a passion for internal medicine and diagnostics, and due to a special interest in emergency medicine cases, she has filled in for our local emergency clinic, Allied, in the past.

When Dr. Steele isn’t keeping pets in tip top-shape, she is helping her husband run their busy household. She has two young active boys, two aging dogs, and a very old cat. In her downtime she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and discovering all of the benefits our North Florida area has to offer.

2701 N. MONROE ST. | (850) 385-5141 | NFLAH.COM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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SOCIAL STUDIES Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend | The Big Bash ‘Havana Nights’ MAY 31 Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend (BBBS) hosted its signature fundraising event, The Big Bash “Havana Nights” at Goodwood Museum. A celebration of youth achieving success, The Big Bash drew over 300 guests and raised over $50,000. With the help of title sponsor Capital City Bank and many others, BBBS hopes to place a mentor in the lives of 700 children this year.

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PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

1 (BBBS Board Members) Graham Demont, Brian Walgamott, Matt Williams, Lindsey Magura, Michele Dames, Marcus Nicolas, Alva Striplin (CEO), Matt Brown, Kyle Phelps and Ella Schwarz-Parisi 2 Michael Himmel, Allen McGinniss and David Bentley 3 Rebecca Romero and Jonathan Romero 4 Michelle Huggins, Ashley Duke, Tracy Brown, Cori McGooden, Lola Kent and Ashley Walsh

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The Tallahassee Ballet Barre Crawl APR. 27 The Tallahassee Ballet’s annual CollegeTown Barre Crawl fundraiser was held at several local establishments, including Coosh’s, Madison Social, Tin Lizzy’s, Centrale and Township.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SELFIE TALLY

1 Monica Carusello, Pamela Marsh, Ruth Vafek, Deborah Minnis and Allie Akre 2 Susan Parsons, Fran Doxsee, Brooke Kennerly and Susan Mau 3 Michelle Ubben, Shelby Boyd, Grace Ubben, Daniella Frank and Jenna Sarkissian 4 Liz Hirst, Lisa Graganella and Natalie Phelps

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Three Convenient Locations 1660 N. Monroe . 2107 Capital Circle NE . 1102 E. Lafayette TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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dining guide 2018

AMERICAN ANDREW’S DOWNTOWN

After 40 years, Andrew’s is still an energetic, casual, see-and-be-seen spot. House favorites include a popular lunch buffet, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. Downtown delivery. Mon-Thurs 11:30 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 11:30 am-11 pm, Sun 10:30 am-9 pm. 228 S. Adams St. (850) 222-3444/Fax, (850) 222-2433. $$ B L D

BUMPA’S LOCAL #349

Featuring burgers, sandwiches, pastas, fried ribs, tacos and wings, this new neighborhood bar and grill has something for everyone.

Mon.–Thu. 11 am–10 pm, Fri.–Sat. 11 am– Midnight, Sunday 11 am–10 pm 2738 Capital Circle N.E. $ L D

HOME OF THE

CYPRESS RESTAURANT ★ Every Night Happy Hour 4–9 p.m.

Thursday Night all wines 2 for 1 4–9 p.m.

Killearn Shopping Center • Ocala Corners KIKUBOGO.COM

Known for its sophisticated take on Southern cuisine, this restaurant won readers’ votes in 2014–2018 as Best Celebration/Special Occasion and Best Fine Dining Restaurant. MonThurs 5-9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 5-10 pm, Sun Closed.

320 E. Tennessee St. (850) 513-1100. $$$ D

DOG ET AL ★

Foot-long and veggie entrees alike grace this award-winning menu. If the entire family is down for the dog, be sure to ask about their incredibly valued family packs. Mon-Fri 10 am-7 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun Closed.

1456 S. Monroe St. (850) 222-4099. $ L D

THE EDISON

A Tallahassee relaxed fine dining establishment, The Edison is so much more than just a pretty face. Equipped with a beer garden, wine cellar, casual café, open-air alternatives and a gorgeous view, this historic building and restaurant has quickly become a Tallahassee favorite. Mon-Thurs 11 am-11 pm, Fri 11 ammidnight, Sat 10 am-midnight, Sun 10 am-11 pm.

470 Suwannee St. (850) 684-2117. $$/$$$

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ★

Tree Trimming PALMS • OAKS • PINES Ben Vasilinda 850.228.7208

Landscaping & Lawncare, LLC.

Licensed & Insured - Commercial & Residential

Lawn Maintenance . Tree Trimming . Debris Removal Roof & Gutter Clean-outs . Pressure Washing Overgrown Lot Clean-ups . 44-foot Bucket Truck

The name says it all! This restaurant boasts a palate-pleasing combination of personalized service, eclectic ambiance and award-winning cuisine and is the Best Desserts winner for 2017 and 2018. Tues-Thurs 11 am-2:30 pm, 5:309 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm; Sun 10 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9 pm. 1950 Thomasville Rd. (850) 224-9974. $$ L D

HOPKINS’ EATERY ★

Hopkins’, a Best of 2018 winner, provides more than just your average sandwich. Favorites such as the Ultimate Turkey and the Linda Special, and a variety of salad meals keep customers coming back for more. Multiple locations. Hours vary. hopkinseatery.com. $ L

ISLAND WING COMPANY ★

Get baked! Tally’s Best Wings 2018 won’t serve you up greasy, fried wings; instead, they

THE KEY

★2018 Best

of Tallahassee Winner

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bake them and prepare them fresh. They don’t stop at wings, either: Try the mac ‘n cheese, burgers and tacos paired with a cold beer.

Mon-Thurs 11 am-12 am, Fri-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11 am-12 am. 1370 Market St. (850) 692-3116. $/$$ L D

JUICY BLUE

Located in the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown, this cool lobby restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unique dishes include tapas with a twist, such as the Georgia peaches with caramel. Mon-Fri 7 am-11 pm, Sat-Sun 7 am-midnight. 316 W. Tennessee St. (850) 422-0071. $ B L D

KOOL BEANZ ★

Eclectic and edgy, both in menu and atmosphere, Kool Beanz delights in art present both on the walls and your plates. This offbeat alternative won Best Casual Dining in Tallahassee.

Dinner Mon-Sat 5:30-10 pm, lunch Mon-Fri 11 am-2:30 pm, brunch Sun 10:30 am-2 pm.

921 Thomasville Rd. (850) 224-2466. $$ L D

LIAM’S RESTAURANT

Part restaurant, part cheese shoppe, part lounge — Liam’s features locally grown and harvested foods, expertly made cocktails, craft beer, artisan wines & cheeses and friendly service. Lunch: Tues.-Sat., 11 am-2 pm; Dinner: Tues.-Sat., 5 pm-close; Lounge: Tues.-Fri. 5 pm-late., Sat.: noon-midnight.

113 E. Jackson St., Thomasville, Georgia.

(229) 226-9944. $$/$$$ L D

MADISON SOCIAL ★

Whether it’s for a social cocktail, a quick lunch or a place for alumni to gather before home football games, Madison Social offers something for everyone. Madison Social earned Best Happy Hour honors in 2018.

Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am, Sat-Sun 10 am-2 am.

CollegeTown, 705 S. Woodward Ave. (850) 894‑6276. $$ B L D

SAGE RESTAURANT ★

Sage’s menu masterfully melds regional influences, including Southern and French.

The setting is gorgeous but cozy, and the outdoor patio sets a charming, romantic tone for a relaxed evening. Mon Closed; Tues-Sat 11 am-3 pm, 6-10 pm; Sun 11 am-2:30 pm. 3534 Maclay Blvd. (850) 270-9396. $$$ B L D

SALTY DAWG PUB AND DELI ★

Low-key hangout with a family atmosphere, serving burgers, wings, cheesesteaks and reubens. Mon.–Thur. 11 am–Mid., Fri. 11 am– 2 am, Sat. 11 am–1 am, Sun. Noon–11 pm 3813 N. Monroe St. (850) 562-6500. $ L D

SAVOUR

Downtown fine dining with a vision for seasonally inspired, regionally sourced and creatively prepared cuisine, such as bourbonbrined pork chops, Gulf Coast bouillabaisse or miso marinated grouper. Tue–Sat 5 pm–close.

115 East Park Ave. (850) 765-6966. $$$ D

The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the Tallahassee Magazine editorial department, except where noted. $$ Moderately B Breakfast/ Outdoor Dining L D

Brunch Lunch Dinner

Live Music Bar/Lounge $ Inexpensive

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

2018

our mission is the same as our passion: to serve the most delicious mexican cuisine at five great locations. we invite you to stop by for our world-famous fajitas.

southwood

727-0094 |

capital circle ne

385-9992 |

north monroe

878-0800 |

kerry forest

668-1002 |

crawfordville

926-4329

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THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE 2018

TABLE 23 ★

This “Southern porch, table and bar” is cozied up among oak trees on one of Tallahassee’s favorite street corners. Lucky Goat coffeerubbed ribeye and Schermer pecan-crusted chicken are among the regional-produce offerings. Mon-Tues 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-9 pm, Wed-Fri 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm, Sat 5 pm10 pm, Sun 10 am-3 pm. 1215 Thomasville Rd., (850) 329-2261. $$$ L D

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE ★

Serving a variety of smoothies and a selection of healthy alternatives, such as wraps, bowls, flatbreads and sandwiches. Multiple Locations.

Hours vary. $ L D

UPTOWN CAFÉ

Uptown Cafe and Catering, locally owned and operated for more than 30 years, is famous for its all-day brunch menu and lunch fare. Specialties at the bustling, family-run café include apricot-glazed smoked salmon, one-of-a-kind omelets, banana bread French toast and flavorful sandwiches. Mon-Sat 7 am-3 pm, Sun 8 am2 pm. 1325 Miccosukee Road (850) 219-9800. $B L

THE WINE LOFT WINE BAR ★

Chosen as a Best of winner in 2017 and 2018, Midtown’s Wine Loft offers a superb wine list, creative cocktails, quality beer and tasty tapas.

Mon-Thurs 5 pm-2 am, Fri-Sat 4 pm-2 am, Sun Closed. 1240 Thomasville Rd., #100.

(850) 222-9914. $$ D

VERTIGO BURGERS AND FRIES ★

Vertigo is home to some of the juiciest, funkiest burgers in town. Favorites include the Vertigo Burger — a beef patty served with a fried egg, applewood bacon, grilled jalapeños, sharp cheddar and Vertigo sauce. Mon-Sat 11 am-9 pm, Sun 11 am-6 pm. 1395 E. Lafayette St. (850) 878‑2020. $$ L D

ASIAN KIKU JAPANESE FUSION ★

Join us for lunch and dinner at our beautiful location on Apalachee Parkway.

Our steaks are not only the best in Tallahassee, but USDA choice Midwestern corn-fed beef, specially selected, aged to our specifications and cut daily. We also serve fresh jumbo shrimp and fish — grilled, blackened or fried.

So please join us for lunch and dinner or just meet up for drinks at our fully stocked bar.

F

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAK HOUSE

2705 Apalachee Parkway | Tallahassee, FL (850) 270-9506

From tempura to teriyaki and from sushi to sashimi, Kiku Japanese Fusion fuses vibrant flavors with fresh ingredients. There’s a reason Kiku was voted Best Sushi in 2018.

Mon-Sat 11 am-1 pm, Sun 12-11 pm. 800 Ocala Rd. (850) 575-5458, 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-5458. $$ L D

MASA ★

In 2018, Masa earned the title of Best Asian in town — and with good reason. Their menu offers a creative blend of Eastern and Western cuisines. Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm, 4:30-9:30 pm; Sat-Sun 12-3 pm, 4:30-9:30 pm. 1650 N. Monroe St. (850) 727-4183. $/$$ L D

NAGOYA STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI

Dine in or takeout, Nagoya offers a wide variety of authentic Japanese cuisine, including hibachi, salads, sushi and sashimi. Lunch: Mon– Fri 11 am–2:30 pm; Dinner: Mon–Thur 4:30– 10 pm, Fri 4:30–10:30 pm, Sat 11 am–10:30 pm, Sun Noon–9:30 pm. 1925 N. Monroe St. $$ L D

OSAKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI BAR ★

Rated Best Hibachi for 2018, Osaka provides dinner and a show, with the chefs seasoning and preparing your meal right in front of you. Sun-Thurs 11 am-10:15 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-10:45 pm. 1690 Raymond Diehl Rd. (850) 531-0222. $$$ D

BBQ MISSION BBQ ★

Rated Best BBQ in 2018, Mission features

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features memorabilia honoring soldiers and first responders while offering smoked brisket, pork, turkey and more. Mon.–Thur.

11 am–9 pm, Fri.-Sat. 11 am–10 pm, Sun. 11:30 am–8 pm. 216 S. Magnolia Drive.

(850) 702-3513. L D

WILLIE JEWELL’S OLD SCHOOL BBQ

Smoked for hours and served in minutes, Willie Jewell’s promises the best BBQ experience you have ever had. Platters, sandwiches or by the pound, Willie Jewell’s offers smoked brisket, pork, turkey, sausage, chicken and ribs with a bevy of Southern sides. Daily 11 am-9 pm. 5442 Thomasville Rd. (850) 629-4299. $ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY CANOPY ROAD CAFÉ ★

Traditional breakfasts, fluffy omelets, skillets, French toast and sweet potato pancakes keep customers coming back. Canopy goes all out on lunch favorites, too, including salads and steakburgers. Mon-Sun 6:30 am-2:15 pm.

Multiple locations. (850) 668-6600. $ B L

THE EGG CAFÉ AND EATERY ★

When you’re looking for breakfast favorites, even if it’s lunchtime, The Egg is the place to be. They were voted Tallahassee’s best 16 times, including the 2018 award for Best Brunch. Second location now open in Kleman Plaza. Multiple Locations.

(850) 907-3447. $$ B L

TASTY PASTRY BAKERY ★

Tallahassee’s original cakery features fresh breads, bagels, pies, cakes and more.

Catering available. Mon.–Sat. 6:45 am– 6 pm. 1355 Market St., No. A-5. (850) 893-3752. $ B L D

THE BADA BEAN

Greeting sunrise with Tallahassee residents for over 10 years, find your favorite breakfast, brunch and lunch specials any time of day.

Bada Bean features lattes, cold brew, cappuccinos, espresso and Mighty Leaf teas. Mon. 6:30 am–2 pm, Tue.–Fri. 6:30 am–3 pm, Sat.–Sun. 7:30 am–3 pm. 2500-B Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 562-2326. $ B L

TREVA’S PASTRIES AND FINE FOODS

Specializing in sweet treats, cakes, pastries and croissants, this bistro-style pastry shop and fine foods store also uses 100% natural ingredients to make savory sandwiches, salads and soups. Tue– Fri 11 am–6 pm, Sat 11 am–4 pm. 2766 Capital Circle N.E. (850) 765-0811. $$ L

CAJUN COOSH’S BAYOU ROUGE ★

This Best Cajun Restaurant winner for 2017 brings the best of the Bayou State right to your table. The menu is jam-packed with Louisiana-style dishes, including favorites like jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, po’boys and seafood gumbo. Mon-Tues 11 am-10 pm, Wed-Fri 7 am-10 pm, Sat 8 am-10 pm, Sun 8 am-9 pm.

Multiple Locations. (850) 894‑4110. $$ B L D

CATERING TASTEBUDZ CATERING ★

Their slogan is, “Holler if you need your taste buds tantalized.” Cases in point: Moroccan chicken with lemon spinach, beef tips with burgundy mushroom sauce, and Caribbean sweet potato and black bean salad. Open daily.

2655-12 Capital Circle NE. (850) 309‑7348. $$ L D

CUBAN GORDO’S

Tallahassee’s top Cuban spot for over 30 years, Gordo’s features favorites such as croquetas, papas rellenas, empanadas and pressed sandwiches like their classic Cubano. Mon.–Sat. 11 am–11 pm, Sun. 11 am–10 pm 1907 W. Pensacola St.; Mon.–Thu. 11 am–10 pm, Fri. 11 am–11 pm, Sun. 11 am–9 pm.

1460 Market St. Suite #3-4. $ L D

GREEK SAHARA CAFE

Serving great food since 2000, Sahara serves everything from gyros and falafel wraps to lamb kebabs and homemade hummus. Mon– Wed 11 am–9 pm, Thur–Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat Noon–10 pm. 1135 Apalachee Parkway.

(850) 656-1800. $$ L D

SAHARA GREEK & LEBANESE CAFÉ ★

Sahara’s fusion of Greek and Lebanese cuisines is unmatched in the area. A large menu and friendly staff cater to all tastes. And don’t forget to order the falafel! Mon-Wed 11 am-9 pm, Thurs-Fri 11 am-10 pm, Sat 12-10 pm, Sun Closed.

1135 Apalachee Pkwy (850) 656‑1800. $$

ITALIAN/PIZZA BELLA BELLA ★

Take your taste buds to Italy with a trip to Bella Bella, voted Best Italian in 2015, 2017 and 2018. This locally owned and operated restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and serves all the classics to satisfy your pasta cravings.

Mon-Fri 11 am-10 pm, Sat 4-10 pm, Sun Closed.

123 E. 5th Ave. (850) 412-1114. $$ L D

MOMO’S ★

After devouring a slice “as big as your head” at this 2018 Best Pizza winner, chain pizza simply is not gonna cut it. From the black-and-white photos to the bathrooms decorated in album covers, the restaurant has an unmistakable and enjoyable “hole in the wall” vibe. Multiple locations. Hours vary. (850) 224‑9808. $ L D

RICCARDO’S RESTAURANT

A Tallahassee tradition since 1999, Riccardo’s features savory Italian classics, from pasta and pizza to homemade subs and calzones — plus a wide-ranging selection of wines and craft brews. Lunch: Tue–Fri 11 am to 2 pm; Dinner: Tue.–Sat. 5–9 p.m. 1950 Thomasville Road.

(850) 386-3988. $$ L D

4-10 pm. 3431 Bannerman Rd., #2 (850) 999-1696. $$$ L D

BONEFISH GRILL ★

Bonefish is devoted to serving great seafood including shrimp, oysters, snapper and swordfish in a vibrant setting, along with top-shelf cocktails and housemade infusions crafted by expert mixologists. Mon-Thurs 4 pm-10:30 pm, Fri 4 pm-11:30 pm, Sat 11 am11:30 pm, Sun 10 am-9 pm. 3491 Thomasville Road Ste. 7, (850) 297-0460. $$ L D

CHOP HOUSE ON THE BRICKS

This family-owned, upscale restaurant serves local organic and sustainable meats, seafood, poultry and produce. Craft beers, fine wines and specialty drinks complement any dish. Tues-Sat 5-9:30 pm, Sun-Mon Closed. 123 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Ga. (229) 236-2467. $$ D

GEORGIO’S FINE FOOD & SPIRITS

George Koikos has over 50 years of experience in Tallahassee restaurants, and his hands-on commitment to quality food has made this upscale restaurant a local favorite. Serving local seafood and prime steak, Georgio’s offers banquet rooms for private parties. Mon.-Sat. 4-9:30 pm 2971 Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 877-3211. $$$ D

HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL

Serving Southern, cajun and creole flavors in classic and modern dishes since 1987. Full bar is available at each location and offers beer, wine, liquor and unique cocktails. Sun-Thurs 11 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-11 pm, and holiday hours. 301 S. Bronough St., in Kleman Plaza.

(850) 222-3976. $$ L D

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAKHOUSE ★

CHECK OUT

MASA’S

2018

Specials

NEW DAILY

SUNDAY FUNDAY

ALL DAY KIDS EAT FREE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A REGULAR ENTREE

MONDAY APP NIGHT

HALF OFF SELECT APPETIZERS FROM 4:30–CLOSE

TUESDAY

TUNA TUESDAY FROM 4:30–CLOSE

WEDNESDAY DATE NIGHT

CHOICE OF KITCHEN APPETIZER, TWO REGULAR ENTREES AND A DESSERT FOR $35

Everyday happy hour 4:30–7 SPECIALS ARE DINE IN ONLY 1650 N. Monroe St. | (850) 727-4183 | masatallahasee.com

Not just a restaurant that serves up savory cuts of prime rib or marbled steaks, this 2018 Best Steakhouse winner is a Tallahassee tradition, and newcomers owe it to themselves to make it a priority to visit. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 pm, 5-9 pm; Sat 5-9 pm; Sun Closed. 2705 Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 562-2525. $$ L D

2018

SHULA’S 347

The legendary Miami Dolphins’ head coach brings the quest for perfection to the dining table at his namesake restaurant, located in Hotel Duval. Keep it light and casual with a premium Black Angus beef burger or a gourmet salad, or opt for one of their signature entrées — a “Shula Cut” steak. Reservations are suggested. SunThurs 5-10 pm, Fri-Sat 5-11 pm. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005. $$$ L D

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD ★

MEXICAN EL JALISCO ★

In the mood for sizzling enchiladas and frozen margaritas? Make your way to the 2018 Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant, El Jalisco, where they do Mexican cuisine to perfection.

Multiple locations. Hours vary. $ L D

SEAFOOD/STEAK THE BLU HALO ★

Blue Halo is a high-end culinary experience featuring dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood along with fine wines and a martini bar.

A private dining room for up to 20 guests is available. Mon-Thurs 4-10 pm; Fri 4 pm-close; Sat 8 am-2 pm, 4 pm-close; Sun 8 am-2 pm,

Whether you’re looking for fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, crab or lobster, these guys have you covered. The 2018 Best Seafood Market winner brings the ocean’s freshest choices to Tallahassee’s front door. Mon-Fri 10 am-7 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 12-6 pm. 1415 Timberlane Rd. (850) 668‑2203.

WHARF CASUAL SEAFOOD

A Tallahassee institution, the Wharf will fill your need for the coast with fresh seafood, salads, seafood tacos and po’boys. Also available for catering. Open daily, 11 am–8:30 pm, 3439 Bannerman Road and 4036 Lagniappe Way, (850) 765-1077 and (850) 668-1966. $$ L D

WAHOO SEAFOOD GRILL ★

Bringing the coast to Tallahassee, fresh seafood options mix with steak and classic Cajun dishes. Mon.–Thur. 11 am–10 pm, Fri.– Sat. 11 am–11 pm, Sun. 10 am–1 pm. 2714 Graves Road. (850) 629-4059. $$ L D

Visit our comprehensive, searchable dining guide online at tallahasseemagazine.com/Restaurants.

Great Food Great Friends

3740 Austin Davis Ave. Tues-Sun 7am-2pm (850) 765-0703 TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Visit Our New Location 300 South Duval St. Tues-Sun | 7am-2pm (850) 907-EGGS (3447) September–October 2019

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postscript

REBEL WITH A CLAUSE Reading, writing and the pursuit of nobility

by NATALIE KAZMIN

L

ike most people, I didn’t fall in love with literature in English class.

Well, that’s a lie — I did, kind of, but not under the harsh glare of my teacher or her carefully articulated and militantly regimented syllabus.

No. I fell in love under my desk.

I can’t tell you how much trouble I’ve gotten in, from detention to confiscated books to my father grounding me from reading when I neglected sleep, food and homework in favor of Harry Potter. It happened again years later, when the Twilight series hit the shelves.

Yeah, I was one of those.

It wasn’t like I was reading erotica or manifestos. Under the desks of English classrooms I became intimate with Palahniuk, Hurston, Socrates, Asimov and, my favorite, Steinbeck. All under my teachers’ very noses.

I read by flashlight. I read by candlelight. I read by the flickering lights of my parents’ late night television programs.

I read slumped under desks and stooped over cash registers and curled on the floors of libraries and bookstores. I have been praised and punished and pacified through reading.

I have made countless friends

and enemies, felt pain and love my mortal life will never know, learned how to fish and swordfight and ignite fire.

As the old cliché goes, I have lived a thousand lives. And yet people are always pleasantly and inexplicably surprised when I tell them, “Yeah, I like to read.”

As if “like” covers it.

Why do people think that reading is some dying, old-world comfort?

Literature is a more renowned art than ever before. We’re investing in the preservation of our predecessors and pushing for the discovery and inclusion of their lesser-known contemporaries. Book sales have increased every year since 2013, and independent publishers and bookstores are popping up eagerly to revel in the market.

And in this new age of voracious readers, we’re lucky enough to share a city with one of the best creative writing programs in the country.

Not to brag or anything.

A fair warning, or perhaps some advice: Not all good readers become good writers, but all good writers are even better readers. These busy days I’m writing thousands of words every month: some for school,

some for work and some for me, but I still make time to read a few books a week … and sometimes one or two of those aren’t even for class.

(In fact, my reading ticks have blended into my writing ticks.)

Old habits die hard — I write more comfortably squeezed under my desk than I do spread out on top of it. The library might be a distracting place for some to work, with its dusty pages and hushed whispers of readers young and old, but when I write there I’m filled with the hope that one day my books might too be on those shelves.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a librarian. People would make a face and ask me why, and I had a sage response always at the ready: The preservation of knowledge is the noble pursuit.

These days, though, I’ve set my sights on publishing. If we’re going to preserve literature, we need to keep producing it. Plus, I’ve always been an enabler.

Here’s to the revelers, the readers and the rebels. May you always have the courage to read under your desk — and, should your book get confiscated, the foresight to carry a backup in your bag.

Natalie Kazmin is a receptionist at Rowland Publishing, owner of Tallahassee Magazine. She graduates in December — as she says, not to brag or anything — with a degree in creative writing from Florida State University.

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illustration by LINDSEY MASTERSON

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