Year: 2008

Panama City Beach, FL Resort Wins Culinary Award

Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa’s Award-Winning Culinary Team Led by World-Class Chef Julio Lucero

The Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa Hotel in Panama City Beach, Florida is not only the home to acclaimed Chef Julio Lucero, but home to an award winning culinary team as well.

As a native of Sonora, Mexico, Chef Julio Lucero received a degree in industrial engineering before looking to expand his horizons by emigrated to the United States in 1986, where he decided to pursue his passion of the culinary arts. Chef Lucero perfected his craft by working in every area of kitchen operations.

Chef Lucero’s background as a chef includes assisting in opening and operating the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Palm Springs. After ten years with Renaissance, Chef Lucero took on the next challenge to become the Executive Sous Chef of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. In 2003 he was promoted to an Executive Chef position to open the new Seville Golf and Country Club, in Gilbert, Arizona, where he continued to build his knowledge of various cuisines. In 2007 Chef Lucero returned to the Emerald Coast along with his wife and two sons to become the Executive Chef at the Marriott Bay Point Golf Resort and Spa.

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Special Trip on the Pier Park Express TODAY at 11am

Ok, I realize this is totally last minute, but as I know that tons of people are looking here almost every minute of the day, I figured I’d put this up anyway.

Today, the Pier Park Express that is leaving from Walmart going to Pier Park at 11 am will play host to the singing Red Hat Ladies as entertainment and Julian Bennett as narrator.

Some of the items of historical interest will be the Petticoat Junction, Miracle Strip Amusement Park and The Hangout.

Again, remember that rides on the Pier Park Express are only 50 cents.

Marina Landing Auction – CANCELED

After selling two 3 bedroom and two 2 bedroom condos, the Marina Landing auction was canceled.

The anticipated selling prices were surely higher than what the market was commanding right now.

The place was packed – over 500 people were crowded outside in various locations on a balcony and downstairs around the auctioneer. The event was outside, so everyone was sweating in the 90+ degree heat and fighting for a spot in the shade. All of the seats were taken and people were standing wherever they could hear and be seen. The parking lot was so full that parking was bleeding into the Woodlawn subdivision. People were hiking across the field.

Check after the break for the SOLD prices.

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The Fed keeps rates the same

With the prime focus shifting to inflation, the Federal Reserve elected to keep rates the same during their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday.

The key short-term interest rate was left the same, ending the rate cut streak that went back to last August.  The short-term federal funds rate was left at 2% which means the prime interest rate stays at 5%.

With signs of inflation, the Fed made a statement that led some analysts to beleive that interest rates will go up later this year.  Food and oil prices are threatening to rise sharply – raising the cost of credit could ward this off.

Although there was no mention of the stimulus checks, economists state that spending and growth would have been flat through the middle part of the year.

Pier Park is Hoppin'

I was out at Pier Park tonight, and it was crazy – and I don’t even think it was a busy night. There were people everywhere.

I was talking to the mall manager the other day and he was telling me that the place really starts to fill up around 5:30 and stays busy until close to midnight! Almost every time I go there, I can’t hardly find a parking place in the big lot on the east and usually end up having to walk a while.

I was talking to someone the other day about how there seems to have been so much pent up demand, now that we have great shopping, it almost doesn’t seem like enough.

There are almost 100 stores open now, with more than 30 more slated to open in the near future.

I’d say Pier Park is a huge success, and keeps getting better.

More pictures after the break.

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County Installed Boardwalk at County Pier

Actually, this isn’t exactly breaking news, but I thought it was worthy of noting as almost half of you are not here and may or may not have known about this.

The county built a boardwalk that goes over the dunes between the county pier and the Sterling Reed Condos off of Front Beach Road on Panama City Beach. They still have not started construction on the pier, but this boardwalk is nice because it offers a couple off-shoots down to the beach. I love seeing nice stuff like this because it makes our beaches more accessible.

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Life Guards on Panama City Beach – everyone else is doing it!

Ok, so the big question is, lifeguards on Panama City Beach – everyone else is doing it, why aren’t we? Local officials have argued that the cost is too much and the liability is too great. What!!?? What is everyone else doing? I should quantify “everyone else.”

As reported by the News Herald’s Ed Offley (great article Ed!) lifeguards can be found on the east coast from Jacksonville to Miami and on the Gulf Coast from Sarasota to Naples, not to mention most of the Panhandle has lifeguards posted on the beaches, including Walton County and Destin. As reported, the 43 miles of shoreline in Gulf County doesn’t have any issues with rip currents as it is protected in large part by Cape San Blas.

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VIDEO: Panama City – Bay County International Airport Construction Update

The construction of the new Panama City – Bay County International Airport is ahead of schedule. The entire 1300 acres of the initial footprint is cleared with crews to start paving the main entry way from 388 in the next couple of weeks.

The recent approval of the state budget that included $12 million from the state will fund the first extension of the runway. Day one of operation for the new airport will include a full 10,000 foot runway. In addition, all the preparatory work will be done so that when they need to lengthen the runway to the full 12,000 feet, it will take a mere matter of months.

Something else that is cool about the construction of the new airport is that the terminal will be LEED certified using all recycled material. The stormwater treatment will be 50% greater than what is required.

There will be an additional 1400 acres outside the airport property that will be used for commercial development.

Check after the break for the video and more pictures.

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