Month: November 2008

Clear Blue

clear blue

Locals know this to be a fact, but many outsiders have a hard time believing the sand on our beaches is really this white.  This is an untouched photo of a sand dune on Shell Island.  The contrast of the blue sky, deep blue gulf and the sugar white sand creates a strong image.  The sand here is so pure and clean that it actually squeaks when you walk on it.  Visit Shell and Crooked Islands when in PCB to see the “untouched” side of our beaches.

See more nature photos of PCB at Sand between Your Toes

Teddy

Huge Hole in Sidewalk at Pier Park

With 24 peices of art and over 15 artists, the Emerald Coast Street Painting Festival (aka Madonnaro 2008) held at Pier Park in Panama city Beach this weekend was a huge success.  There were artists from as far as California, but most were local to our area.

Signature artist, Tracy Stum returned this year to share her interactive talent with the crowds that often surrounded her performance.  I say performance, because all weekend, the artists could be viewed creating their work.  I have to say, it was one of the coolest events I’ve been to all year.  The energy of being outside, with beautiful weather all weekend, with all the people was amazing.

This was her second year to come to Bay County for this event.  Last year she did a painting of the Dalai Lama that actually looked like she was sitting next to him.  This year, she did a Alice in Wonderland piece where it actually looked like there was a huge hole in the ground with colorful cartoon mushrooms planted in the bottom.  The caps looked as though they were level with the pavement, it was amazing.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2267878&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1

Madonnaro 2008 – Street Painting Festival in Panama City Beach from Jason Koertge on Vimeo.

Jeanie Burns did a painting of a scene from Jack and the Beanstalk.  The detail was amazing, regardless of the rough and pitted surface.  The colors were vivid and the effect was amazing.

Ellen Killough, from the Visual Arts Center, painted a recreation of Lord Frederic Leighton’s Fisherman and the Siren.  The detail was amazing, the colors perfect, and the size was actually quite enormous.

Other paintings included an excavation site, beautiful parrots with an azalea, a portrait of Edgar Allen Poe, and the logo from the Panama City Beach Seafood Wine and Music Festival just to name a few.

My day at Pier Park – Madonnaro Street Painting Festival

I believe this is the first time I’ve spent almost all afternoon at Pier Park.  The weather was perfect, people were everywhere, kids were laughing, it was a great time.

Today and tomorrow is the Madonnaro Street Painting Festival, hosted by the Visual Arts Center of Panama City.  Local artists and a few from out of town gathered on Panama City Beach to create art that will inevitably wash away, only to be preserved in pictures and video.

The day started out cool and overcast, but around noon, I watched the clouds be pushed away by crystal clear blue sky.  The air warmed to nearly 80 degrees.  Artists shed layers as they crouched on their knees smoothing and blending fresh chalk with their hands.

Lunch time brought an original Viking Hot Dog.  Stuffed in a fresh baget with a hole in the middle the all natural dog had a crunchy skin, and perfect inside.  The flavor was exceptional, but the price for how it filled my belly was twice too much at $5. The cart was from Seaside, out here for the weekend.

As the day wore on, the artists knees and backs grew sore, but the paintings grew more vivid and elaborate.

Tracy Stums flew in from California to share her talent with The Beach.  Last year, she created an interactive piece of the Dali Lama that, when looked at from a specific angle, appeared to be sitting next to her.  This year, she is painting an Alice in Wonderland scene.  Other paintings include Jack and the Bean Stalk, Iron Man, and a dinosaur excavation site to name just a few.

The street painting festival brings out an interesting culture, something I was very glad to be a part of.  Who knows, maybe next year, I’ll paint something.

Last night rain washed away most of what was created yesterday, but tonight, all that threatens is cold, expected to get in the high 30’s tonight.  All afternoon, we could feel the temperature dropping, most likely a 25 degree change from this afternoon to 5 this evening.

Tomorrow, the artists will all return to finish off their paintings.  Provided we don’t get any rain, many will last for a couple weeks.

Madonnaro has begun!

This weekend’s street painting festival at Pier Park in Panama City Beach began yesterday with artists from around the county and around the country.  High school students started their paintings yesterday, despite the threat of rain, and the two signature artists are beginning their paintings as I write this.

As they cordoned off their square many of the artists spoke their concern of rain, as it threatened the entire festival this weekend.  Today is overcast with a chance of rain.  The temperature is a almost perfect, but a little chilly 65.

The artists will be out all day, painting in various spots around the main boardwalk area of Pier Park, and bring the kids, as there will be a special kids painting section.

The Modannaro Street Painting Festival is put on by the Visual Arts Center of Panama City.

Red Rose Jems has done it again

They’ve outdone themselves again.  The first time I ate there, it was amazing, I really wanting them to be one of our sponsors.  The readers of pcbdaily had to know about them.  The second time I ate there, it was even better.

The third time, the other night, we ordered one of their gourmet pizzas, half cheese (for the kiddos) and half deluxe with sweet sausage.  It was unbeleivable.  I hadn’t had a pizza that great since Marco’s.

I’m not a food critic or conesouir, nor do I know any fancy culninary terms, but I can tell you, if you haven’t eaten at Red Rose yet, you’re missing out.

They are located on Thomas Drive, just down from the Joan Avenue/Thomas Drive intersection.  Right now, they are giving a 10% discount if you mention you heard about them on pcbdaily.com.  Be sure to stop by.

Their number is 850 249 4367.